St. Mary’s Alms-Houses,
Situate at the western end of St. Mary’s church-yard, were founded 1460, by Degory Watur, draper. They are 16 in number, extremely wretched and filthy in appearance, and dangerous and unwholesome from their smallness, each having only a single apartment 11 feet by 8, without any outlet. The centre house, originally inhabited by the founder, and called the hall, is larger than the others, and has a wooden porch, on which is a painting of Watur and his wife, and on the front is the effigy of King Edward IV. The poor people, who must be parishioners of St. Mary’s, have each £2. 6s. 10½d. allowed them annually, by quarterly payments from the draper’s company, and an upper garment once in two years.
St. Giles’ Alms-Houses,
Near St. Giles’ church, in the Abbey Foregate. The houses are four in number. The residents in them are nominated by the earl of Tankerville, who allows them 1s. 6d. per week, with a quantity of coals and an upper garment annually.
Sick Man’s Friend and Lying-In Charity.
The objects of this Institution, which was begun in 1810, are the relief of the diseased, and of poor married women in childbed, at their own houses; who not only receive medical assistance, if necessary, but the use of bed linen, food and every other necessary that their situation requires. The meetings of the Committee are held at the Independent Chapel, on Swan-hill.
Samaritan Society & Lying-In Charity,
Is similar in its objects and institution to the former. Its operations commenced in 1814, and the meetings of its Committee are held in the vestry of St. John’s Chapel.
Ladies’ Charity,
Was instituted in 1814, by some benevolent females, solely for the purpose of assisting poor married women with cloathing, food, and other necessaries requisite for their situation. The meetings of the Committee are held in the vestry of St. Chad’s church.