6 Grade II Listed Cottages
Pickering Byrds Charity is a registered Charity with the Charity Commission. The trust is administered by a body of Trustees who give their services voluntarily. A clerk is appointed by the trustees who deals with the day to day administration of the Charity and can be contacted by email at: emmamorehen@googlemail.com.
The Alms Houses comprise of 6 Grade II listed cottages, situated within a conservation area. The properties date back to around 1756, and can be found to the south west elevation of the church and form one long stone building with dormer windows. The tablet to the front elevation records:
“This Hospital was erected and endowed for the support of eight Poor Persons by Mrs. Dorothy Elizabeth Pickering, eldest daughter of the late Sir Gilbert Pickering, Bart., Anno Domini 1756.”
The tablet to the far end records that:
“This building, an asylum for Bedes women, was erected AD MDCCCLMII by donation of the late T Coales Esq” From Parishes: Titchmarsh, A History of the County of Northampton: Volume 3 (1930), pp 142-149 URL: http://www.british-history.ac.uk
It is believed that the upper rooms of the middle cottages were closed off during the 1960’s for safety reasons. A kitchen and bathroom have subsequently been added, with a recent renovation programme being undertaken to some of the cottages to convert the previous redundant attic spaces to living accommodation, providing 5 of the 6 cottages with 2 bedroom accommodation, with bathrooms to the ground floor. All cottages are self contained and benefit from full oil fired central heating, and fully fitted kitchens with built in oven and hobs. There are no communal facilities at the Almshouses, although residents enjoy the use of a lawned area and gardens situated to the rear of the cottages, this area is maintained by the charity.
The Almshouses are situated in Islington and are located within easy walking distance of the church and village shop.
Under the terms of the Governing Instrument which sets out the criteria for occupants of the properties, the charity offers homes for people who are in need who were born, are or were resident in or have family connections to the ecclesiastical Parish of Titchmarsh with a preference for spinsters or widows in need who (except in special circumstances approved by the Commission) were born or resident in the ecclesiastical Parish of Titchmarsh at the time of their appointment. Failing the appropriate Alms people within the Parish of Titchmarsh, those from the Benefice should be considered. “the ecclesiastical Benefice which is part of Titchmarsh” means the villages of Aldwincle, Clopton, Pilton, Stoke Doyle, Achurch, Titchmarsh and Wadenhoe.
Charity Commission – Hospital Or Almshouses Of Dorothy Elizabeth Pickering And Frances Byrd >>
