Resident shares love for historic Derby almshouses amid major restoration
For Pat, the almshouses on London Road in Derby are far more than just a place to live.
“They’re home,” she says simply.
Pat, now aged 73 has lived at the almshouses for almost 12 years after moving into No. 2 in July 2014. As the Grade II listed buildings undergo a major £3 million refurbishment the first of its kind since the Liversage Trust almshouses were originally built in 1836, Pat is one of the few residents who will experience life there both before and after the restoration.
And she cannot wait to return.
“From the moment I walked into the house, I felt at home,” she said. “It was small and cosy, it felt homely from day one.”
At the time, Pat had recently gone through a major life change. Having been married for many years, moving into the almshouses was the first time she had lived alone.
“It felt like a weight had lifted off my shoulders,” she recalled. “It was the start of a new chapter for me.”
Pat was born in Manchester but her parents relocated to Derby when she was still a baby. Pat heard about the Liversage Trust Almshouses through the Trust’s former General Manager, Yvonne Taylor, after her son-in-law carried out work in The Trusts Care Home. At the time she applied, Pat was living with her daughter having recently separated from her former husband.
She still vividly remembers arriving for the first time.
“I walked through the big double doors on London Road and couldn’t believe what was behind them,” she said. “All the little cottages and the beautiful gardens, it was such a surprise. It felt like an oasis in the middle of town.”
The peaceful gardens remain one of Pat’s favourite things about living there.
“Tony keeps the gardens beautifully,” she said. “On a nice day you can sit by the fishpond, listen to the fountain and hear the birds singing. You close your eyes and it’s just peaceful and calm.”
Although Pat admits her one-bedroom cottage was outdated and she didn’t have her own washing machine, she loved it.
“It suited me,” she laughed. “The house was always lovely and warm, and the bills were affordable too.”
Over the years only minor changes had been made to the property, including replacing a gas fire with an electric one, meaning the upcoming restoration is the biggest transformation residents have ever seen. The refurbishment will modernise and improve accessibility throughout the Almshouses, creating updated homes fit for future generations while carefully preserving the site’s historic character.
For Pat, who lives with a lung condition, the improvements will make a real difference. She hopes to move into one of the newly created accessible bungalows, although she says she would happily return to No. 2. Pat who temporarily moved to a flat on the Trust’s Nottingham Road Estate, praised the support she has received throughout the relocation process.
“The Liversage Trust couldn’t do enough for you,” she said. “They made sure everything was sorted and that we were looked after. Everything will be new, the kitchen and bathroom which will be lovely, I’m excited about that. The downstairs toilet will make such a difference, and the new stairs won’t be as steep,” she said. “Plus, I’ll have space for my own washing machine. The renovations were needed and necessary, so the upheaval of moving out is worth it.”
But while the buildings themselves hold special memories, it is the people that Pat says truly make the Almshouses unique.
“The staff are lovely and the neighbours are wonderful,” she said. “Everyone looks out for each other. There are lots of different characters, from different walks of life and that’s what makes it special.”
Pat describes herself as “a bit of a mother hen”, often checking in on fellow residents and making sure everyone is alright.
“You can have your own peace and quiet, but there’s always someone around if you want company,” she explained. “There’s a sort of magic about the place.”
Some former neighbours will not be returning after the refurbishment, Pat says she will miss them, but she is equally looking forward to seeing familiar faces again as her friends and neighbours move back in. A keen crafter, Pat enjoys crochet and embroidery and always has a creative project on the go. Her two daughters, son and grandchildren regularly visit her at London Road, a location she values for its proximity to Derby city centre and the Royal Derby Hospital, which she visits regularly for appointments. Pat is likely to be out of her home for as much as 12 to 18 months as work continues on site, Pat says one thing has never changed.
“It’s my safe haven,” she said. “I wouldn’t want to live anywhere else. If someone offered me a mansion, I still wouldn’t leave. The Almshouses are my home.”
See also: Liversage Trust: exciting £3m project in Derby | The Almshouse Association
posted 30 June 2026