2014
ST6316 : St John's Almshouses
taken 10 years ago, near to Sherborne, Dorset, England
St John's Almshouses
Close by the abbey, this provision is the finest example of mediaeval almshouses in Wessex. It was founded under a licence of King Henry VI on 10th January 1437. The Deed states its purposes thus:
'Twelve pore feeble and ympotent old men and four old women' to be cared for by a housewife whose duty was to 'feeche in and dyght to the victaill wash wrying make beddys and al other things do'.
Work on the original building finished in 1448 but has since had more additional done, particularly in Victorian times.
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