RESIDENTS and staff at Westende Almshouses gathered to celebrate the communityâs 50th birthday.
Tea, cakes, balloons, and chat in the residentsâ lounge marked half a century of friendship and support.
Lynda Rowe has been Westendeâs manager for nearly 25 years, being there for residents and looking after the building.
She said: âI love the community spirit here. If anyoneâs in trouble or unwell, thereâs always someone ready to help.â
Almshouses have a long history. In medieval times religious orders provided hospitality and shelter in âhospitalsâ or âbede houses.â The oldest still in existence is thought to be Worcesterâs Hospital of St Oswald, founded around 990AD.
Today, with a severe shortage of affordable rental accommodation, the role of almshouse charities is more vital than ever. The first Wokingham almshouses were built in 1451, when John Westende, Clerk of Wokingham, paid for the building of eight cottages at the east end of Peach Street (then Le Peche Street).
People could stay there for life unless, rather quaintly, they were proven to be a ârobber, night stroller, or notorious offenderâ.
Then in 1887 The Victoria Almshouses were built to commemorate the Queenâs Jubilee.
To celebrate, then mayor Mr. T. M. Wescott invited the builders and employees to supper at the Ship Inn, âwhere an excellent repast was provided by Mrs Lushâ, after which the mayorâs toast was âheartily responded to and the National Anthem sungâ.
The construction provided work for many, but times were hard and even before the homes were completed there were numerous applications for them from âall sorts and conditions of menâ.
Each had just two rooms, one up and one down, with a heavy iron grate fireplace for heating, and presumably, cooking too.
In 1951 it was recorded that the residents âshared eight tons of coal between them, and received grants of meat and breadâ.
By 1956 the homes were proving too expensive for trustees to keep them in reasonable condition, and an appeal went out. With help from the public, and from the local Rotary Club who raised ÂŁ600, renovations meant that for the first time residents could enjoy electric light and power points, a modern fireplace, a modern toilet, and heated water for their bathroom.
But gradually the cottages continued to fall into disrepair, until all were demolished to make way for the Westende Almshouses we see today.
These buildings were financed by Wokingham United Charities (WUC) following the sale of a building and land in Hatch Ride, and were officially opened in 1974 by then trustee Mr Hackett, with a dedication from Rev. KR Martin.
WUC continues to run and maintain the 27 Westende flats.
Almshouses are reserved for older people unable to buy or rent. They donât charge rent, instead asking for maintenance contribution.
The Wokingham flats have a living room, double bedroom, fitted kitchen, bathroom with walk-in shower and are suitable for couples or individuals.
Roy, a resident since 2003, said: âI love everything about it; my flat, the community, everything. We have things going on all the time, and thereâs always someone to chat with.â
Molly has lived at Westende for 25 years.
âIâm happy here,â she said. âI lost my husband nine years ago, and my family is happy to know that Iâm surrounded by friends. My week just flies by.â
Two years resident Maureen agreed:
âThe community spirit here is lovely,â she said, âand if anything needs repairing, itâs dealt with really quickly. âItâs comfortable and very convenient for the town centre. âMy flat was heaven sent.â
Phil moved in at the beginning of this September, having previously lived in a campervan, and before that on a narrowboat.
âArthritis meant I had to look for somewhere warmer and more comfortable,â he said. âIâd been looking at shared accommodation, but thatâs mostly for young professionals. I had heard of almshouses, and then this opportunity dropped out of the blue. I love my flat â itâs brilliant.â
Wokingham United Charities hosts social events for residents throughout the year, including summer strawberry tea, and Christmas dinner in the communal lounge. Weekly activities include coffee and cake mornings, craft afternoons, bingo, and fish and chip Thursdays.
Wokingham.Today thanks The Wokingham Society which works to preserve the townâs heritage and landmarks, for providing access to historic local newspaper articles.
For more information, visit: www.wokinghamunitedcharities.org.uk
posted 29 October 2024