The Weedon Almshouses

The Weedon Almshouses

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Everyone needs a safe place to call home. For 400 years The Weedon Almshouses have provided, at minimal cost, comfortable accommodation to the underprivileged in Chesham, affording welfare to the most vulnerable long before the Beveridge Report and establishment of modern social securities in Britain.

Chesham Museum in collaboration with The Weedon Almshouses Charity are proud to unveil a new, temporary, display of original documents and objects related to the people and history of the Charity.

Join us as we celebrate the 400 year Anniversary of The Weedon Almshouses. Explore the history of this unique charity through objects gratefully loaned by the Almshouses Charity’s Collection including original documents: from the 17th Century Will of Thomas Weedon, 19th Century Trustee minutes and account books, 20th Century post cards addressed to an Almshouse Resident and other fascinating artefacts.

History

The Charity started at the end Thomas Weedon of St Clement Danes’ life, with his last will and testament. Drawn up and executed on the 6th of September 1624 a sizeable provision was made, as per his wishes, to establish in the Parish of Chesham, five hundred pounds to build an Almshouse for “four poor Almspeople”. By October 1629 the purchase deed was drawn up for a site in Waterside, beside the main road to Latimer, for the sum of £8.0.0.


There were only two conditions for becoming a resident, or “inmate”. They must possess no assets, or means of supporting themselves; and they must originate from the Parish of Chesham or its eight hamlets. Residents, once chosen, would receive a weekly allowance, fuel to keep themselves warm and most importantly a cottage to live independently.

During the Twentieth Century these were stripped-down, the fuel allowance was discontinued after the Second World War and the weekly allowance to residents was replaced by a nominal rent in 1953. The provision of accommodation however remained and actually expanded, In 1950 Trustee W J Standring offered to allocate funds for new almshouses to be built in the communal garden grounds and four alms flats were completed in October 1955.

In the 21st century Weedon Almshouses Charity continues to provide accommodation for older, and more vulnerable members of the local community and the aim of the current Trustees is to continue indefinitely the work of their forebears four centuries ago.

Learn more about The Weedon Almshouses

Our collection page explains the history of the Almshouses in Chesham and you can also find out more by visiting the Weedons Almshouses website.