Our Story

Homes for the vulnerable 

Long before social housing became a responsibility of the state, almshouses were providing a home for the most vulnerable in society. Almshouses trace their origins back over a thousand years, usually established at the behest of wealthy donors. Many were associated with a chantry chapel dedicated to the benefactor in the local church. Today there are over 1,700 independent almshouse charities providing homes for around 35,000 residents throughout the United Kingdom. Each almshouse charity is now regulated by a ‘scheme’ approved by the Charity Commission and administered by a board of volunteer trustees. Such schemes mandate the organization of the charity, the management of its assets  and criteria for appointing almsmen. This noble tradition continues today in Lambourn as The Almshouses of John Isbury & Jacob Hardrett.

“three yards of Bruton russet…”

The first recorded almshouses in Lambourn were those founded by John Rogers, Sheriff of Berkshire in 1446 who made provision in his will for five almsmen and a priest. Each almsman was to be paid eightpence per week and the priest, thought to be the chantry priest of S. Katherine’s Chapel in the parish church, nine shillings and fourpence, four times a year. In addition to fire wood, both priest and almsmen were provided with measures of Bruton russet cloth every third year. The Reformation saw the dissolution of the chantry, but the poor men remained unmolested in their almshouses. Ownership of Rogers’ land passed to Sir William Essex and his heirs and by the end of the 16th century the almshouses were in a ruinous state, causing another landowner, Jacob Hardrett, to intervene in 1627. Hardrett made financial provision to support the charity, now bearing his name, and drew up wide-ranging rules for its management. Almsmen were to be “of a humble spirit, fearing God and frequenting the Church”. Indeed they were each morning in their chamber to confess their sins and attend prayer for an hour at S. Katherine’s Chapel each morning and evening.

By the 19th century the dwellings were again in poor repair and the Rev. Henry Hippisley of Lambourn Place had them substantially rebuilt in 1827, renaming them Place Almshouses. Modernisation in the 20th century reduced the number of houses to three which remain to this day along the south side of Chapel Lane.

“six ells of frieze to make every one of them a gown…”

In 1502 Henry VII granted a licence to John Estbury (Isbury) to found a perpetual chantry and almshouse for 10 poor men in Lambourn. The Chantry Chapel of the Holy Trinity was appended to the south of the parish church and an almshouse adjoining the churchyard to the north. On his death in 1508 Estbury left his entire estate to the maintenance of the almshouses, chantry chapel and its priest. Following the dissolution of chantries in 1547 little is know of the fortunes of the almsmen and priest until 1589 when Queen Elizabeth ordered the Archbishop of Canterbury to conduct an inquiry. By examination of John Estbury’s founding deeds the governance of the almshouses was redefined. Two supervisors were appointed, the first being the Warden of New College, Oxford, the second to oversee the day to day administration. Almsmen were to be “poor men, humble in spirit and destitute, chaste in body, and reputed of honest conversation”; 8 to be appointed by the second supervisor, and two by the Warden. Among other benefits each almsman received “six ells of frieze to make every one of them a gown” every second year, but a commitment to two visits daily to the Holy Trinity Chapel to say psalms and kneel round their benefactor’s tomb, reciting the Lord’s Prayer. The post of local supervisor was held by successive members of the Hippisley family and in 1852 the same Henry Hippisley who rebuilt the Hardrett Almshouses embarked on the rebuilding of the Isbury Almshouses as we see them today. Expense, possible insolvency and a lengthy dispute with the Charity Commission led to the appointment of a board of trustees to take over the administration of the charity. Hippisley remained as an ex-officio trustee and the family connection endured until 1960 when his granddaughter resigned.

a fold in which to shelter them…

The 19th century also saw the growth of Methodism in Lambourn. Early services were held in Betty Bowsher’s cottage which stood on land now occupied by the present chapel. One man was prominent in advancing the Methodist cause, not only in Lambourn, but wider afield into the Vale of the White Horse. Thomas Bush was born in Letcombe Regis in 1785, educated in Wantage, and on the death of his father in 1800 moved with his mother to North Farm in Lambourn. As a young man he was drawn to Methodism and by 1809 was a local preacher. But by 1813 he was suffering a speech affliction, sometimes reducing his voice to a whisper, and resolved that what support he could not give from the pulpit he would provide financially. In 1812 he funded a chapel in Letcombe “to collect a few sheep in the wilderness and build a fold in which to shelter them”. This was to be the first of many, including chapels in West Hendred, Childrey and Wantage. 1835 saw a great revival of Methodism in Lambourn and Bush supported the rebuilding of the chapel with a schoolroom and vestries. The ensuing debt to Bush of £480 was cancelled by his will. On the death of his mother in 1837 he declared “I do solemnly take Thy cause, and Thy poor, as my family and inheritors”. Indeed Thomas undertook to visit all the poor of Lambourn at least once a year until his death in 1847. He and his mother share a grave in Lambourn churchyard.

a unified charity for
the future…

With the closure of the Methodist chapel the trustees of the Isbury Charity recognised its potential to provide further almshouses, thereby continuing the purpose of Thomas Bush to support those in need within the parish. The site was purchased in 2017. Nestling between the sites of both the Isbury and Hardrett’s Almshouses the trustees imagined a continuous site of almshouses stretching from Isbury, through the chapel site and into that of Hardrett’s.  In pursuance of this the trustees of both Isbury and Hardrett’s charities agreed to seek approval from the Charity Commission to merge in order to further this project as a unified charity. Approval was given to the creation of The Almshouses of John Isbury & Jacob Hardrett on 21st February 2019.

The chapel is a Grade II listed building which demands sensitive development. The newly combined charity instructed architects to develop a plan that provides four apartments on two floors within the existing chapel building and a further 5 in an appropriately styled building to replace the current schoolroom annex. Planning approval has been granted and the trustees look forward to bringing this project to fruition, providing a further 9 much needed homes for those in need in Lambourn.

  • Isbury Almshouses

    The Isbury Almshouses form a tranquil quadrangle accessed from Three Post Lane. There are 8 homes each comprising two floors. The ground floor houses a sitting room and kitchen.

    The bathroom and bedroom are located upstairs. Properties are suitable both for single occupancy or couples. In Isbury the main services are included (heating, electricity & water), so in addition to the Weekly Maintenance Contribution (WMC) a supplementary services charge is levied. Residents are responsible for their own Council Tax.

  • Hardrett’s Almshouses

    Hardrett’s comprises 3 single storey properties arranged around a communal garden and accessed from Chapel Lane. Each property offers a sitting room, bedroom, bathroom and kitchen and is suitable for single occupancy or couples.

    In Hardrett’s the main services are not included (heating, electricity & water), so the Weekly Maintenance Contribution (WMC) is not subject to a supplementary services charge. Residents are responsible for paying utility bills and their own Council Tax.

How to apply

The Charity welcomes applications from those in need and of good character from within the parish of Lambourn and circumjacent parishes. Living in an almshouse community is peaceful and rewarding, but it may not suit everyone. Before applying we recommend that you get in contact or arrange to visit us for more information. Residents are not ‘tennants’, but are beneficiaries of the Charity and occupy an almshouse under license.

If you wish to make an application you may download an ‘Application Form’ by clicking here, and additional ‘Almsmen Information’ by clicking here. Printed versions are available from the Clerk to the Trustees, 23 Oxford Street, Lambourn, Berkshire, RG17 8XS.

Completed Application Forms should be returned by post to the Clerk.

All applications are considered by the Trustees when vacancies occur and suitable candidates will be invited for interview.

The Charity keeps a list of interested applicants. This list is reviewed regularly and priority will be given to those most in need at the time a property becomes available, not necessarily in order of application.

Where we are

Lambourn sits at the head of the Lambourn Valley within the North Wessex Downs area of outstanding natural beauty. Our almshouses are located a few yards from Lambourn market place, overlooked by our parish church of St Michael & All Angels, ‘The Cathedral of the Downs’.