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The four almshouses, built a stone’s throw from the church in a gothic style of marlstone ashlar, were commissioned in 1818 at a cost of £653. In the early days they housed “four poor men and four poor women”, two to a house. The men were allocated four shillings weekly, a hat and a greatcoat; the women three shillings, a bonnet and a cloak. The almspeople elected by the trustees to live in the houses had to be “of fair and honest name or fame” who preferably had not recently been in the workhouse; they were expected to attend the parish church.
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One resident, recorded in 1891, was both Town Crier and Ale Taster appointed to check that beer was of an acceptable standard – an onerous task at a time when Deddington had at least a dozen ale houses and coaching inns. Another, presumably not an Ale Taster by trade, had the name of Temperance Penn; he died at the age of 81 in 1911, relatively young compared with other almspeople in the late 1800s who lived on into their 90s. Residents could be evicted for “immorality, drunkenness, quarrelsome behaviour, breach of rules”, and evidently a few were.
Over the past two centuries, the almshouses have been gradually updated and modernised. Electricity and internal lavatories were considered by the trustees in the 1930s and probably installed during the war. In 1974, an architect advised wholesale modernisation at a cost – alarming to the trustees – of £17,400.
In a stroke of good fortune, Mrs Mary Thomas who lived in Chapel Square, bequeathed £11,000 for the upkeep of the almshouses in the summer of 1974 – so renovations began. By 1976 each almshouse had central heating, a kitchen, a bathroom, a living room and a bedroom. That year the rent was raised to £7 a week, which some almspeople found a bit steep. Recent improvements include repainting, restored chimneys, new boilers, double glazing and the leaded windows replaced by craftspeople exactly as they were; there are other ongoing upgrades.
Over the past two centuries, the almshouses have been gradually updated and modernised. Electricity and internal lavatories were considered by the trustees in the 1930s and probably installed during the war. In 1974, an architect advised wholesale modernisation at a cost – alarming to the trustees – of £17,400.
In a stroke of good fortune, Mrs Mary Thomas who lived in Chapel Square, bequeathed £11,000 for the upkeep of the almshouses in the summer of 1974 – so renovations began. By 1976 each almshouse had central heating, a kitchen, a bathroom, a living room and a bedroom. That year the rent was raised to £7 a week, which some almspeople found a bit steep. Recent improvements include repainting, restored chimneys, new boilers, double glazing and the leaded windows replaced by craftspeople exactly as they were; there are other ongoing upgrades.
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Location: The Almshouses, Church St, Deddington, OX15 0TG |