The
almshouses were originally attached to the Medieval St John's Hospital founded by Ranulph III, Earl of Chester, in the early 1190s but were rebuilt in 1854.
When William Jones founded the
almshouse, he decided to appoint the Haberdashers' Company as trustee and the Company has held that responsibility until now.
The
almshouse gradually evolved into the general hospital both in England and in America.
For example, he describes some impoverished individuals defying the intention of the
almshouse, using it as a winter refuge, running off each spring in order to resume "living largely independent and masterless lives." (p.
The marbles and bottle may once have belonged to the
almshouse occupants, but the elegant gold ring was definitely a possession of a wealthier inhabitant of later years.
It appears this movement to introduce nursing into the
almshouses languished for some time, because Schell went on to say, "Political entanglements, low pay, low status, and lack of women's political power appear to have combined to hamper the progress of
almshouse nursing.
Some
almshouses occupants "hope they may have died" before it is put up, a planning committee was told.
Built in the early 1520s, the Tudor building was the result of an endowment made by the will of William Ford, a wool merchant and former Mayor of Coventry, and acted as an
Almshouse to house several families.
LLANRWST'S historic
Almshouse faces an uncertain future.
Over the years, women were more often
Almshouse residents, so much so that in 1900, a reminder was issued that men too could apply.