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KNIGHTS ALMSHOUSES BRIEFING PAPER

Almshouse History

An almshouse is charitable housing provided to enable people (typically elderly people who can no longer

work to earn enough to pay rent) to live in a particular community. They are often targeted at the poor of a

locality. The first recorded almshouse was founded by King Athelstan in York in the 10th Century, the oldest,

still in existence, is the Hospital of St. Cross in Winchester, dating to about 1132.

By the middle of 1500s, there were about 800 mediaeval hospitals spread across the country but following

the dissolution of the monasteries, only a handful remained. Many almshouses retain a close connection with

the established church, and, although religion is less important now than it was in Medieval times, most

maintain a Christian tradition. Almshouses tend to be characterised by their charitable status and by the aim

of supporting the continued independence of their residents.

A feature of this rich heritage is that many almshouses lie in the heart of towns and villages, ensuring that

they remain closely integrated in the local community, with the added benefit of ensuring residents are close

to shops and services. Many of them are listed buildings.

Almshouses in Farnham

Unlike those referred to above, the five almshouses in the Farnham area are of more recent date. The earliest

was built in the 17th Century. The remainder were mostly built in Victorian times. Their origin owed a great

deal to benefactors who accumulated wealth in the 18th/19th centuries, especially from hop growing and

brewing. The most recent Farnham almshouse to be provided was built in 1909.

The five Farnham Almshouses are:

o Andrew Windsor’s Almshouses, Castle Street. 1619

o Sampson’s Almshouses, Mead Lane. 1854.1

o Knight’s Almshouses, The Street, Wrecclesham. 1861.

o Trimmer’s Almshouses, West Street. 1893.

o McDonald’s Almshouses, West Street. 1906.

Andrew Windsor’s Almshouses

The oldest of the almshouses in Farnham, built in 1619, were funded by Andrew Windsor. Andrew Windsor

was a landed gentleman, from a long established family living at Bury Court in Bentley. Unlike the other

benefactors who made bequests to almshouses in Farnham, Andrew Windsor was not connected with hop-

growing or brewing. His almshouses, built on the east side of Castle Street, were intended to help small

trades people who had fallen on hard times. The initial building designed as one building, divided into eight

dwellings and provide comfortable accommodation for people with nowhere to go. There were strong

connections with the St Andrews Parish Church and residents were expected to:

‘daily resort to the parish Church of Farnham on Sundays, holy days, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays and

at other times appointed for divine service.’

1 Later rebuilt in West Street

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In 1975 an additional 6 almshouses were built in Park Row, at the rear of the original almshouses. In 1988 the

eight original almshouses were extensively renovated and converted into four roomier dwellings. There are

now ten dwellings. At the foot of Castle Street there is a charming notice relating to the Windsor Almshouses

which can be seen below.

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Sampson’s Almshouses.

In 1854 the Sampson family gifted five existing cottages in Mead Lane for use as almshouses. Robert

Sampson, who was born in Dorset, became a brewer and maltster in Bridge Square, Farnham, but in 1854 ,at

the time of the gift of the cottages, the family business was being managed by his son who went by the

unusual name of Sampson Sampson. The almshouses were replaced, in 1934, by five attractive new

almshouses, which were built nearby in West Street and to which the residents were transferred.

Sampson’s Almshouses

Trimmer’s Almshouses.

George Trimmer founded and built up a brewery during the 19th Century. It was said of George Trimmer that:

‘He started with nothing, married well, and left £750,000 when he died. Instead of spending his wealth on the

grand life, George Trimmer benefited Farnham, the town that helped him make his fortune.’ 2

Towards the end of his life Trimmer had a connection with Wrecclesham when, in 1880, he purchased the

Runwick Estate, which he then let to Charles Roumieu3. George Trimmer, never lived in Runwick House, and

for much of his life in Farnham he lived at 69 West Street.4 Charles Trimmer, George’s son was one of the first

Trustees of the Knight’s Almshouses in Wrecclesham.

2 The Almshouses of Farnham, Surrey 1619-2003.

3 The Roumieu family were closely connected with Wrecclesham. Charles son, George Roumieu, was Church warden of

St Peter’s Church and a Governor of St Peter’s School. A window commemorating the life of George Roumieu in the south aisle of St Peter’s Church, was destroyed recently when there was break in at the church. 4 During George Trimmer’s ownership of Runwick House he allowed Wrecclesham Cricket Club play on his front lawn.

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On his death, in 1892, the almshouses, bearing his name were built, as well as a cottage hospital.5 Trimmer’s

Almshouse comprise two identical houses in West Street, one either side of Mount Pleasant, each house

being divided into four dwellings. As was the custom with other Farnham almshouses residents were not only

given accommodation but also a living allowance, and George Trimmer provided a permanent endowment for

this purpose, 8s. (40p.) a week for the resident, for each dwelling. By 1938 each single resident received 12s,

6d. (62.5 p. weekly and married couples 15/- (75 p.)

Trimmer’s Almshouses

Mc Donald’s Almshouses

McDonald’s Almshouses were built and endowed in 1906 in the will of George Edward McDonald, who died in

1904. The almshouses were also built in West Street, alongside Trimmers Almshouses, opposite the

cemetery. George McDonald was a single man whose business interests related to hop growing. Successive

Censuses describe him as ‘sack manufacturer, sack merchant, dealing in hop bagging’. The 1861 Census shows

George as a bachelor, living in Castle Street with his mother.

1871-1901 Censuses show him to remain a bachelor and to have moved to 104 West Street. McDonald’s

Almshouses were purpose built, and comprise one building divided into eight dwellings.

In 1988, the management of Trimmer’s and McDonald’s Almshouses was amalgamated.

5 Trimmer’s Cottage Hospital, which lay back from the far end of East Street, served as Farnham’s hospital for many

years until it was taken over in 1974, by the NHS, when it was rebuilt and renamed as Farnham Hospital.

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McDonald’s Almshouses

Charles Knight

Before describing Knight’s Almshouses it is appropriate that we should understand the role that Charles

Knight played both in Wrecclesham and Farnham during the 19th Century. Charles had been born in Farnham

in 1801, the son of George Coldham Knight, a farmer and hop grower, and his wife formerly Mary Knight, nee

Osborn.

George and Mary were living at Coxbridge farm, where they had six children, one daughter and five sons. In

1810, the family moved to Lower House, at Runwick which they had purchased in 1788. During this time,

George Knight had rebuilt Runwick House and had purchased a number of farms in the Runwick area, thus

increasing the size of the Runwick estate.

In addition to land acquisition, George Coldham Knight had purchased many properties in the Farnham area.

He owned several public houses, the White Horse in West Street, the Goats Head on the corner of Castle

Street and the Borough, the Bull at Bentley and the Green Man in Farnham. However a more important

acquisition in 1815 was of the premises owned by Bristow Bradley, a brewer, who had been declared

bankrupt.

This purchase not only brought a number of public houses under his wing, but more significantly included the

Bull at 75 Castle Street and the brewery behind it. The Brewery became known as the Farnham Brewery

which stayed in the family for the rest of the 19th Century. However in the 1920’s, 75 Castle Street was to

become the site of an even more important symbol of the Knight family, the Family Bank. See Picture

overleaf.

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Knight’s Brother’s Bank 75 Castle Street.6

In 1831 George Coldham Knight decided to retire and he surrendered some of his copyhold land in Runwick to

his son Charles, who had been brought up to take over the farming side of the business. George did not enjoy

a long retirement as he died suddenly, in 1833, aged 72. With his death Farnham had lost a very formidable,

wealthy and astute business man. His considerable estate was divided between his sons, from which Charles

Knight, then aged 32, inherited Runwick House and its accompanying land, which included Lower Farm and

other land and buildings in the surrounding area.

In 1830 Charles was married, in Dorking, to Elizabeth Cheeseman, the daughter of a wealthy brewer and the

couple set up home at Runwick House. The Tithe apportionment, in 1841, shows Charles Knight holding 350

acres of land in Farnham, Runwick and Wrecclesham, as well as land in the surrounding parishes. He was very

much involved in Farnham affairs, including the Ratepayer’s Association and the Board of Surveyors.

Farnham was an important centre for hop growing, with its hops fetching the highest prices of any in the

country. In a good year Charles would have made a great deal of money from this. He also owned two brick

works – brick making was an important industry in Farnham. The couple appeared in both the 1841 and 1851

Censuses. In the 1841 Census they are shown to be living in Lower House, Runwick, with a range of servants.

6 The Knight’s Bank building in Castle Street, designed by the famous architect Richard Norman Shaw, was demolished

in 1932. This unloved building was not greatly missed. It was described in one record as ‘a cloud capped tower with knobs on!!

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In the 1851 Census Charles is shown nowliving in Runwick House, aged 50, and farming 270 acres, employing

28 labourers.

Charles who was parishioner of St Andrews, was invited by the Vicar, Rev. Richard Sankey, in 1939, to sit on

the Working Party set up to consider the requirement of a Church in Wrecclesham. The Woking Party began

work in April 1839 and its terms of Reference were:

To take such steps as might seem most desirable for promoting the erection of a new church

in Wrecclesham;

To canvas the opinions in the several districts of the parish.

The Working Party made short work of this brief and a site was chosen, architects briefed and building

completed, to enable the church to be opened in July 1840, just 14 months later. The local people of

Farnham were generous in raising the nearly £2,500 required. Bishop Sumner headed the list with £100,

which was matched by Charles Knight. In acknowledgement of Charles Knight’s overall contribution to this

project, his wife, Elizabeth, was invited to lay the foundation stone. For the next two decades Charles Knight

contributed magnificently to the life of the parish. He was a church warden, manager of the village school

and a regular worshipper at St Peter’s, he, and his wife Elizabeth, always sitting in the right hand front seat.

In 1860 Charles Knight died, at the relatively early age of 59. He was buried in a family tomb close to the

Church and the handsome memorial, shown in the picture overleaf was erected in the sanctuary.. Charles,

on his deathbed, and only three days before he died, had expressed the wish to build and endow almshouses

in Wrecclesham and this was included in a codicil to his will.

The Knights Almshouses

Knights Almshouses were built on the north side of the Street, opposite Beales Lane, the narrow

thoroughfare that leads up to the church. The building, pictured overleaf, shows the almshouses which have

accommodation on two floors in four dwellings.

The building had three gables. On the central gable was a stone plaque, now largely illegible, which bears

the following inscription:

‘christo in pauperibus;

Erected and endowed by Charles Knight Esq. and Elizabeth his wife’

Trust and Trustees

The building was completed in 1861. A Charitable Trust was established - Charity Number 204478 – with the

following charitable objectives :

the Upkeep and maintenance of four almshouses for the benefit of two men and two women over 60 years of

age, residents of the parish of farnham (as constituted on the 22nd October 1860) income for expenses, repairs

and for the benefit of almspeople.

In 1972 the building was granted Grade II Listed Status.

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Knight’s Almshouses

The Memorial to Charles and Mary Knight in St Peter’s Church

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The Rules and Regulations for both the Trustees and the Inmates, which make interesting reading, are

included as an Appendix to this briefing paper. They have been taken from the Minute Book of the Trust

which is pictured below. It will be seen from the list of Trustees and of tenants that there are gaps in the

records particularly between 1916 and 1948.

The Foundation Trustees

It was appropriate that the first Chairman of Trustees was Charles Knight’s nephew, and heir to his estate,

Charles Austwick. Charles was described as ‘a gentleman’ and held the position of Head Clerk at his uncle’s

Farnham Bank at 75 Castle Street where he lived.7 His co Trustees were George Roumieu and Charles

Trimmer two young Cambridge graduates. George Roumieu was the son of Charles Roumieu, who became

the tenant of Runwick House. At the time of his appointment he was a young man but he was later to have

immense influence in the village, as Church warden ,Trustee and Governor of Wrecclesham School to say

nothing of the influence he had in Farnham and Surrey where he was the County Valuer. The third Trustee

appointed was Charles Trimmer ,the son of George Trimmer, the wealthy Farnham businessman who had

established the Trimmers Almshouses, and who was to purchase Runwick House on the death of Charles

Knight.

The Role of the Trustees

The role of the Trustees is described in the Appendix 2 but, at this stage, it is worth making a few

observations on those who have taken this position. At the outset it is perhaps surprising that there was no

involvement of the Vicar of Wrecclesham, Henry Julius, who was a close friend of the Knight family. It is

thought however, that it was probably he that assisted in the choice of young men to set the project on its

way. It will be seen that later Vicars became involved as Trustees and some took the position of Chairman.

The Rules for the Trustees embrace the ‘Incumbent ‘of Wrecclesham as one of the Trustees. There is no

7 Charles Austwick was the donor of the organ at St James Church which is now in St Peter’s Church, Wrecclesham.

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suggestion as to the number of Trustees that shall be appointed, nor that the Incumbent should Chair the

meetings, although many did. More recently it has been a practice to allow the local Council’s to nominate a

Trustee and it has been agreed that Farnham Town Council would oversee this role on behalf of both

Councils.

The List of Trustees contained at Appendix 3 is incomplete. There are gaps in the records between 1916 and

1948 which was probably due to the influence of the two world wars.

These records however reveal that there are several local people who have given outstanding service to the

Trust. George Roumieu and Charles Trimmer between 1893 and 1909; Miss McClymont Reid 1956-1966;

Maureen Hunter 1975 – 1995; David Taylor 1995 -2013, Reg Skeet 1997 -2013; Susan Farrow 1998-2013

and Michael Pemberton 1998-2013. Mention must also be made of Sue Davies who has been the Trust’s

secretary for the past 12 years.

Theirs has been an involvement that has often been far more than just attending a Trust meeting.

Maintaining contact and looking to the interests of the elderly tenants, interviewing and selecting new

tenants, collecting their rent, organising the maintenance of the building, managing the accounts, chairing

the meetings all have benefited from the time, skills and dedication of successive Trustees.

The minutes reveal that the finances have been skilfully managed and that the Trust has continually looked

to improve its accommodation. While day to day management and maintenance of buildings, now more

than 150 years old, has been a priority, the Trustees have continually looked to the future.

In the mid 1990’s discussions were held with Waverley Borough Council to consider the building of new

almshouses at Cobbett’s Way, a project which was abandoned by the Council. In the wake of these

discussions it was decided to upgrade the existing accommodation.

Over a period of time each unit was fitted with a modern kitchen, baths were replaced with showers, inner

porches and upstairs WC’s, were installed. This all took careful planning and management and could only

take place when units fell vacant. This had to be managed and the finances - £150,000 – had to be raised.

The photographs below give some idea of the quality of work that was undertaken.

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Appendix 1. Rules and Regulations

To be observed by the Trustees of the

Wrecclesham Almshouses

Built and endowed by Charles Knight Esq

and Elizabeth Knight, his wife. 1861.

1. This Charity shall be conducted according to the intention of the late Charles Knight, as expressed in a Codicil to

his will dated the 22nd

day of October 1860 & the Almshouses should be occupied by those persons only who

shall be elected as the recipients of the Endowment

2. The Trustees of the Endowment and their successors, together with the Incumbent of Wrecclesham for the time

being, shall be the Trustees of the Almshouses.

3. The Trustees shall elect a Manager, from their own members if practicable, who shall, weekly or monthly, pay the

amount to each inmate, and submit all accounts to the Trustees accounts, pay the amount due to each inmate,

and submit all accounts to the Trustees at a General Meeting, to be held annually in the first week in January or

whenever the majority of the Trustees shall determine.

4. The election of every Inmate shall be made by the Trustees collectively, who are in such elections to have special

regard to:

1st

. moral and religious character.

2nd.

to previous regularity at Church.

3rd.

to industry and length of service.

4th

. to age.

5th

. To the number of children maintained and educated.

5. Whenever a vacancy shall occur in the number of Inmates the Manager shall give notice thereof to the Trustees

requiring that within one month to supply such vacancy.

6. The Trustees shall have power to expend in the repair of the Almshouses, or any part thereof, the money which

may accumulate during any vacancy in the number of Inmates, provided nevertheless that no such vacancy shall

continue longer than three months.

7. That a book shall be provided, and kept by the Treasurer, in which shall be entered the Rules and Regulations to

be observed by the Inmates, by each of whom a copy thereof shall be signed, and any Inmate disobeying or

offending against such Rules and Regulations, or either of them, or giving any cause of offence whatsoever to the

Trustee or either of them, shall be expelled at the end of the then current week of such Inmate, and another

person elected into his or her stead, or suffer such diminution of benefit as he Trustees shall think fit.

8. That upon the death or refusal or incapacity to act of any or either of the Trustees, the surviving Trustees, or the

Trustee for the time being, shall appoint another or other Trustee or Trustees in conformity with the declaration

to that effect contained in the said codicil of the said Charles Knight.

Elizabeth Knight.

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Appendix 2. Rules and Regulations

To be observed by the Inmates of the

Wrecclesham Almshouses

1. The Inmates shall be members of the Church of England and shall attend Church regularly

when able to do so.

2. No second Inmate shall be allowed to live in a house, except in cases of old age, or illness

of the occupant, and only then, with the consent of the Manager, a married couple, if

elected, to this charity to be an exception.

3. No trade shall be carried on by any Inmate, nor any article be exposed for sale within the

premise.

4. No Inmates shall repair their own windows and any injury to their houses wilfully

committed and the Manager shall be empowered to deduct from the weekly allowance

the expense of such repairs.

5. The houses and garden shall be kept clean and neat, and shall always be open for

inspection of the Manager, or any of the Trustees. No dogs or pigs to be allowed.

6. Any Inmates guilty of drunkenness, swearing, frequenting public houses, breaking any of

the foregoing rules, or in any other way misconducting themselves, shall be liable to

suspension from all benefits of the Charity, or to suffer such diminution of benefit as the

Trustees shall think fit.

Elizabeth Knight

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Appendix 3. Trustees 1893-2016

1893 Charles Austwick (Chair)

George Roumieu

Charles Trimmer

1894-1908 Charles Austwick (Chair)

George Roumieu

Charles.Trimmer

Thomas Smith

1909 Rev Charles Keable (Chair)

George Roumieu

Charles.Trimmer

Thomas Smith

1916 Rev Charles Keable (Chair)

George Trimmer

F.E.Potter

1948 Ellen Wrightson

F.E Potter

Miss M,McClymont Reid

1949 Rev J.R. Stevens (Chair)

Rowland.D. Clarke

Miss Esther B. Murray

Miss M McClymont Reid

Rear Adml J.A Keys.

1953-56 Rev J R Stevens(Chair)

Miss M McClymont Reid

Rear Adml J.A Keys.

1957-1966 Rev Charles.F Leverton(Chair)

Miss M,McClymont Reid

Mrs E.B.Murray

1966 Rev Charles F Leverton (Chair)

Mrs M,McClymont Reid

Miss Esther.B.Murray

Mrs Jean Dolman

Cllr C.W Williams

Cllr. E. Morgan

1975 Rev Graham Theobald (Chair)

Miss Esther Murray

Mrs J Chorley

James R. Reid

Mrs Maureen Hunter

1984 Rev Graham Theobald (Chair)

Basil Williams

Brig H.E.C. Welson

Alan Hicks

James R. Reid

Mrs Maureen Hunter

Basil Williams Chairman

1985-87 Rev Harry Dickens (Chair)

Mrs Maureen Hunter

Alan Hicks

Leslie Finbow

Norman Kidd

1987 Rev Harry Dickens (Chair)

John Aggleton

Alan Hicks

Norman Kidd

Maureen Hunter

Paul Raymont

1990-91 Rev Harry Dickens (Chair)

Alan Hicks

Brian Glasspool

Norman Kidd

Basil Williams

Maureen Hunter

1991-95 Rev Harry Dickens (Chair)

Mrs Julia Anderson

Brian Glasspool

Norman Kidd

Basil Williams

Maureen Hunter

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1995-6 Rev Harry Dickens (Chair)

Brian Glasspool

Norman Kidd

Basil Williams

David Taylor

Mrs Susan Farrow

1996 David Taylor (Chair)

Mrs Susan Farrow

Brian Glasspool

Michael Pemberton

Mrs V. Phillips

Mrs J. M.Pound

1997 David Taylor (Chair)

Mrs Susan Farrow

Brian Glasspool

Michael Pemberton

Mrs V. Phillips

Mr Reginald Skeet

1998-2002 David Taylor (Chair)

Mrs Susan Farrow

Michael Pemberton

Mrs V. Phillips

Mr Reginald Skeet

Mrs Jane Barker Benfield

2002-2009 Michael Pemberton (Chair)

Mrs Susan Farrow

Mrs V. Phillips

Mr. Reginald Skeet

David Taylor

( 2006 Mrs Susan Davies (Secretary)

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Residents

Date of Death Name Age Date of Election

17th Dec 1869 Sarah Larby 64 June 1862

2nd Oct 1886 Hannah Grover 66 June 1862

3rd May 1866 George Hurdle 69 June 1862

5th Nov 1868 James Parratt 74 June 1862

25th Jul 1876 Maria Parratt 70 June 1862

15 Sep 1876 Nathaniel Fry 75 June 1866

7 Jun 1882 Sarah Fry 91 June 1866

26 May 1892 Mary Hewitt 81 Mar 1870

20 Jun 1883 George Wilkinson 79 Oct 1876

29 Jan 1886 James Hoare 70 Jul 1883

26 Jul 1886 Mary Ann Barclay 76 Feb1886

11 Oct 1893 Mary Wilkinson 83 Aug 1882

17 Jan 1893 Sarah Rogers 76 Mar 1886

6 Jul 1894 John Wooderson 66 Oct 1886

3 Jan 1903 Jane Hurdle 72 Apr 1892

17 Aug 1916 Thomas Wilkinson 86 Nov 1893

17 Aug 1911 Jane Wilkinson 79 Nov 1893

20 Nov 1913 James Hebbard 89 Apr 1894

30 Apr 1900 Harriett Hebbard 74 Apr 1894

6 Oct 1903 Thomas Fry 77 Sep 1894

Mrs Jetting 78 Jan 1903

30 Jun 1911 John Gardner 79 Jan 1904

16 Jan 1917 Harriett Gardner 83 Jan 1904

1906 Mrs Jennings

1916 George Wilkinson

John Hack

Alice Hack

5 Oct 1953 Louisa Attfield 79

26 Apr 1961 William George Eade 76 Mar 1957

Dec 1983 Elsie Florence Eade 90 Mar 1957

Mar 1984 William Purchase 86 Nov 1966 Dec

1970 Harriett Purchase 74 Nov 1966

Alan Stewart Jun 1985

Chris Perry

Edna Brewer 1985

1987 Frank Shrubb

1990 F.B. Moulsey 1990

1991 Fred Williams 1991

Mr. H and Mrs. F. Jackson 1991 (left 1992)

2004 Mr Bill Warner 1993

Mr Coleman 2005

Mrs Perry 2005

2014 Mrs St Leger 2005

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Mr Michael Linnington 2006

Mrs Irene Fontaine 2009

Maggie Thompson 2011

Mr Gregory Renders 2015

Acknowledgement and References

The Briefing Paper has been greatly assisted and informed by the following:

The Log Book of the Knights Almshouses Trustees

The Almshouses of Farnham 1619-2003. Published by the Almshouses of Farnham 2003.

‘Surrounded by Hops’ by Cathie Fitzgerald. The Story of the Knight Family of Farnham.

Farnham and District Museum Society, Occasional Publication 2014