Published in Windlesora 16 (1998)
© WLHG
The first recorded charitable bequest in Old Windsor was that of Alexander Morley, brother-in-law of Edward Tyle. Morley lived at Pitters, sometimes called Peters Hill, in a house now only an irregularity in the land surface, between the school and St Andrews Close. In 1594 he left “£20 per year for ever to the poore and needy people of Old Windsor”.
This money, invested in land and other securities was spent in 1797 on the building of the original six almshouses, some of the land being retained as allotments. A plaque erected in 1976 records that this was done by Rev. William Warrington, Vicar, Messrs Hamilton and Miles, Churchwardens, and Messrs Sheppard and Warcus, Overseers of the Poor. In addition to the six almshouses, a schoolmaster’s house and two additional cottages were provided and the rent from these was used for the upkeep of the almshouses. They were described as being built on land adjacent to Pennyroyal pond.
In the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries many other charitable bequests were left to Old Windsor, some providing money and others specific goods for distribution to the poor, such as bread, meat and blankets. These charities included:
| The Reddington charity 1755 | The Parish Allotments |
| Bannisters charity 1819 | The charity of Sophia Jane Maria Beal Bonnell 1831 |
| The Fuel Allotment charity 1817 | Catherine Gossetts charity 1830 |
| George Stevens charity 1813 | James Weldons charity 1686 |
| Edward Lanes charity 1732 | The Waste Lands fund |
| The Hughes blanket charity 1861 | Lady Onslows charity (for the school) |
| The Jubilee School of Industry 1810 | Mrs Ann Hammarslys Bequest (school) |
| The charities of Walters and Meredith, of LadyPenistone and Anthony Grindon. |
There were also a few charities to provide extra income for the Vicar.
In 1955 the Charity Commissioners created the United Charities of Old Windsor by amalgamation of the holdings of these charities and they are now invested to provide income for the almshouses. These are administered by trustees – the Vicar and churchwardens and three trustees nominated by the parish council to serve for four years. The Pennyroyal Almshouses are provided for six people of either sex, a married couple counting as one, who are aged, of good character, and except in special circumstances, have lived in Old Windsor for at least two years. Vacancies are advertised and after the initial application to the clerk, candidates are interviewed by the trustees.
Throughout their life the almshouses have been regularly maintained to standards suitable at the time. Electricity was installed in 1950, and there were general repairs in 1954. In 1970 a big programme of restoration was carried out,during which time the tenants had to move out, the trustees finding accommodation for those who had no family to go to. New bathrooms and kitchens were fitted and central heating was installed.
The land between the almshouses and the road had been used as gardens or allotments for the residents but, because of their age, few people were cultivating them and the land became derelict, providing a home for a large colony of feral cats, which caused problems for the almspersons and the trustees. Part of the land was let to St Peters School as a netball court and it was also used as the infants’ playground.
In 1975 the trustees considered a plan to build additional almshouses on the land in front of the cottages. An initial suggestion to build in such a way as to produce a square building around a central courtyard was rejected by the Charity Commissioners and a more modern plan to provide seven extra cottages was adopted.
The new almshouses were opened by Lord Onslow (a descendent of one of the original benefactresses) and the commemorative plaque was unveiled on March 28th 1976.
In 1990 the six old almshouses were practically rebuilt, retaining the original facade, but updating the interior. The almshouses were subsequently honoured by a visit from H M Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother when she took tea with almsperson Miss Anthony, who had been her cook.
On 2nd October 1997, almspersons, trustees and friends gathered at the Union Inn, Old Windsor, for a lunch to celebrate the Almshouses’ two hundredth birthday. It was a very happy occasion, enjoyed by all who participated. The lunch had been the idea of the long-serving clerk to the almshouses, Mrs Violet Baker. She died in September but Mr and Mrs Hugh Waterman carried on with the arrangements so that the party took place just as had been planned.
Margaret Gilson
Windsor Local History Group 