1
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
2
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.
3
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.
4
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.
5
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.
6
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!!
7
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.
8
Knight’s Almshouses
The Memorial to Charles and Mary Knight in St Peter’s Church
9
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.
10
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.
11
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.
12
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
13
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
14
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)
15
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
16
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
Top Related