Westminster Almshouse Foundation celebrate Founders Day

Westminster Almshouses Foundation (WAF) invite new Almshouse Association Chairman Willie Hartley Russell to celebrate Founders Day.

_{l-r: Lord Mayor, Sue Ford, Cllr Selena Short (also trustee), The Rev Graham Buckle & Willie Hartley Russell}

_{[above photo -Association Chairman Willie Hartley Russell} _{Lord Mayor of Westminster Cllr Patricia McAllister and Sue Ford Chair of Westminster Almshouses]}

The event was also attended by the City of Westminster Lord Mayor Cllr Patricia McAllister, the charity trustees and the residents.

The Founders Day service and reception celebrated the occupation of the Westminster Almshouses Foundation in their current location at 42 Rochester Row. The present building was opened on St James’ day (25 July) 1882. The original almshouse, founded by James Palmer in 1656 was located a few minutes away in Palmers Passage, just off Victoria Street.

Over the years, the site has expanded & now provides accommodation for forty one residents.

In 1656, Rev James Palmer founded almshouses in Palmer’s Passage for six poor old men and six poor old women together with a school for the education of twenty boys. He also encouraged Butler and Hill to make donations to create almshouses.

In 1675, Nicholas Butler founded two almshouses in Little Chapel Street near Palmer’s Passage for two of the most ancient couples of the best report and, in 1708, Emery Hill, a brewer and benefactor in the parish of St Margaret Westminster founded 12 almshouses and a school in Rochester Row on land leased from Westminster Abbey.

All the almshouses were consolidated together into the United Westminster Almshouses and re-erected in Rochester Row in 1881-2.