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the history
ABOUT ALSMHOUSES
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The History: This is not a new idea: the oldest English almshouse still in use dates from about 990AD! Originally they were called hospitals or bede houses. By the middle of 1500s, there were about 800 medieval hospitals spread across the country, but many were either sold off to landowners or left to ruin after Henry V111’s dissolution of the monasteries. Then, in the late sixteenth century, the medieval craft guilds founded many hospitals to provide care for the “elderly decayed” members in their declining years. Benefactors came from all walks of life; Kings and Queens, Archbishops and clergy, the aristocracy, merchants and liverymen.
During the Victorian era, housing became a huge social problem as people migrated to towns looking for work. Scandalous conditions of the workhouses inspired wealthy philanthropists to endow almshouses, generally for their local area and in groups of 6-12 dwellings. About 30% of current almshouses are thought to have been founded during this period.
An abiding feature of an almshouse charity throughout the ages is that they are governed by locally recruited, volunteer trustees whose motives are purely altruistic.
The Movement Today. The National Association of Almshouses (The Almshouse Association) was formed in 1950. The objects of the Association are to assist charity trustees to manage their resources effectively, to support them in providing good quality housing for those in need, to promote the welfare and independence of residents and to preserve the historic tradition of almshouses for future generations.
Today, it supports over 1600 independent almshouse member charities that provide homes for around 36,000 residents across the United Kingdom.
During the Victorian era, housing became a huge social problem as people migrated to towns looking for work. Scandalous conditions of the workhouses inspired wealthy philanthropists to endow almshouses, generally for their local area and in groups of 6-12 dwellings. About 30% of current almshouses are thought to have been founded during this period.
An abiding feature of an almshouse charity throughout the ages is that they are governed by locally recruited, volunteer trustees whose motives are purely altruistic.
The Movement Today. The National Association of Almshouses (The Almshouse Association) was formed in 1950. The objects of the Association are to assist charity trustees to manage their resources effectively, to support them in providing good quality housing for those in need, to promote the welfare and independence of residents and to preserve the historic tradition of almshouses for future generations.
Today, it supports over 1600 independent almshouse member charities that provide homes for around 36,000 residents across the United Kingdom.
