The John Sayer Almshouses provide accommodation to those who would otherwise be homeless. The houses provide residents with the equivalent of a small studio flat and shared garden at an affordable cost to them.
The houses were built in 1684 under a bequest in the will of John Sayer, who was the Head Cook to King Charles II.
The endowment consisted of rent from some land and income from an orchard behind the almshouse. Further endowments came from Martha Deere (1784), George and Elizabeth Nugent (1830) and John Finch (1861).
The original beneficiaries were '6 poor widows, aged over 55 and constant frequenters of the Church of England'.
Each widow was given 8 shillings a month, and a cloth gown every three years. Only one widow could be absent at any one time, and not for longer than a month in any year. They had to attend church every Sunday, walking there in pairs. Failure to do so meant a threepence fine; regular failure could lead to permanent exclusion. The youngest widow had to look after the sick, and open and unlock the gates at specific times. Failure would lead to a two shilling fine, with possible permanent exclusion after reprimands.
We don't have such strict rules today, but we continue to provide a home to those in need in the same historic grade II listed building.
In recent years, several major issues have been identified and we now need extensive repairs and renovation to ensure that we can maintain this historic building and continue to provide safe and comfortable accommodation for our residents.
Three of the houses need repointing to address damp issues. The wall on Cowper Road needs ties to repair a crack which has developed. Damp problems have been identified in the all the homes caused by the techniques and materials used when the houses were converted from six to four in the 1960s. The existing cement pointing and internal gypsum plaster need to be replaced with lime-based products which will allow the building to breathe and the damp to escape. The guttering for all the houses also needs to be improved.
THANKS TO YOUR DONATIONS THIS WORK WAS COMPLETED AUTUMN 2023.
The fourth house was repointed last year and is currently vacant. This requires complete refurbishment before it can be offered to any new resident.
Structural repairs are needed in the roof and the ceiling, the walls need to be replastered in lime and rewiring is needed to bring it up to current standards. It needs a new kitchen and bathroom, flooring, tiling and decorating!
340 years after the almshouses were built, we want to make sure this beautiful building can continue to provide homes to those in need in our community.
This restoration project is not cheap. As a listed building, we must use traditional materials and methods. This means oak beams, lath and plaster ceilings and cast iron guttering. We want to ensure work is done to the highest standard to preserve the building for another 300 years.
We are applying for grants from several organisations and are grateful for those donations we have already received.
The almshouses are run by volunteers, so any donation you can give will go to this restoration project.
Estimated costs:
Repointing £16,500 - FUNDS RAISE AND WORK COMPLETED - THANK YOU
Guttering £13,000 - FUNDS RAISE AND WORK COMPLETED - THANK YOU
241 work £82,000
If you feel able to make a donation, but would rather speak to us direct, please email clerk@johnsayeralmshouses.org.uk
To read more, visit our website https://johnsayeralmshouses.org.uk/
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