Almshouses of West Berkshire and Reading (apart from Newbury)

 

                              

                                                    Estbury Almshouses, Lambourn

This post covers all of the Almshouses to be found in West Berkshire and Reading, excluding Newbury. Most are still in operation as Almshouses, while others have become ordinary dwellings, albeit with historical features such as a tablet.

The Estbury Almshouses are situated to the right of the parish church. The almshouses were founded in 1502 and re-founded (i.e rebuilt) by Henry Hippisley in 1852.

 

 

If you go past the Estbury Almshouses on your right and turn right down a narrow lane you will find on the right the Hardretts Almshouses, re-founded by Jacob Hardrett in 1625. There is a sign over the door for Hardretts Almshouses, but it is hard to imagine that they are still use as such. The parish church can be glimpsed behind.

 

All that remains of St Peter's Almshouses in Brimpton is this handsome gateway. The almshouses were founded by the Countess of Falmouth.

 

 

Donnington, just north of Newbury, has the splendid Donnington Hospital ...

The hospital was built as a square around a courtyard in 1602 and restored and re-opened in 1822. The enormous chimneys are a dramatic feature.

As you walk down to the village there is another building on the right that looks like it might be an almshouse. Further investigation reveals that it was Abberbury Close (1938), which is also owned by the Donnington Hospital Trust.

Interestingly, the Trust was founded in 1393 by the same Sir Richard de Abberbury who built Donnington  castle. It is the tenth oldest almshouse foundation in the country. The Trust also now looks after Jesus Hospital in Bray (which will be covered in my post about East Berkshire Almshouses) and the more recent Abberbury Close.

 

Heading further east to Aldermaston, we reach  Dixon's Almshouses in Church Road. They were founded by the Rev Robert Dixon in 1706 and improved in 1904 and 1926. They are now private (or perhaps estate) houses.

The final almshouses covered in this post are on the outskirts of Reading in New Lane Hill. 

They are the rather lovely Mary Lyne Almshouses. They were founded in 1832 by Mrs Elizabeth May and Miss Mary Lyne for six poor women, three from Burghfield Parish and three from Tilehurst. They have been completely reshaped inside and are now privately owned.

 

The remaining ones are Vachel Almshouses in Rose Walk, Castle St, in the centre of Reading close to the Oracle shopping centre. They were originally founded by Sir Thomas Vachel in 1634 for the maintenance of six poor men. The original buildings were demolished and rebuilt in 1867 and modernised in 1904 and 1926.

 

 

Note: I believe this is a full set of Almshouses in East Berkshire, but additional information or errors to be corrected would be most welcome. Click on the Comments option at the bottom of the post.