RESIDENTS and staff at Westende Almshouses gathered to celebrate the community’s 50th birthday.
Tea, cakes, balloons, and chat in the residents’ lounge marked half a century of friendship and support.
Lynda Rowe has been Westende’s manager for nearly 25 years, being there for residents and looking after the building.
She said: “I love the community spirit here.
“If anyone’s in trouble or unwell, there’s always someone ready to help.”
Almshouses have a long history.
In medieval times religious orders provided hospitality and shelter in ‘hospitals’ or ‘bede houses.’
The oldest still in existence is thought to be Worcester’s Hospital of St Oswald, founded around 990AD.
Today, with a severe shortage of affordable rental accommodation, the role of almshouse charities is more vital than ever.
The first Wokingham almshouses were built in 1451, when John Westende, Clerk of Wokingham, paid for the building of eight cottages at the east end of Peach Street (then Le Peche Street).
People could stay there for life unless, rather quaintly, they were proven to be a ‘robber, night stroller, or notorious offender’.
Then in 1887 The Victoria Almshouses were built to commemorate the Queen’s Jubilee.
To celebrate, then mayor Mr. T. M. Wescott invited the builders and employees to supper at the Ship Inn, ‘where an excellent repast was provided by Mrs Lush’, after which the mayor’s toast was ‘heartily responded to and the National Anthem sung’.
The construction provided work for many, but times were hard and even before the homes were completed there were numerous applications for them from ‘all sorts and conditions of men’.
Each had just two rooms, one up and one down, with a heavy iron grate fireplace for heating, and presumably, cooking too.
In 1951 it was recorded that the residents ‘shared eight tons of coal between them, and received grants of meat and bread’.
By 1956 the homes were proving too expensive for trustees to keep them in reasonable condition, and an appeal went out.
With help from the public, and from the local Rotary Club who raised £600, renovations meant that for the first time residents could enjoy electric light and power points, a modern fireplace, a modern toilet, and heated water for their bathroom.
But gradually the cottages continued to fall into disrepair, until all were demolished to make way for the Westende Almshouses we see today.
These buildings were financed by Wokingham United Charities (WUC) following the sale of a building and land in Hatch Ride, and were officially opened in 1974 by then trustee Mr Hackett, with a dedication from Rev. KR Martin.
WUC continues to run and maintain the 27 Westende flats.
Almshouses are reserved for older people unable to buy or rent.
They don’t charge rent, instead asking for maintenance contribution.
The Wokingham flats have a living room, double bedroom, fitted kitchen, bathroom with walk-in shower and are suitable for couples or individuals.
Roy, a resident since 2003, said: “I love everything about it; my flat, the community, everything.
“We have things going on all the time, and there’s always someone to chat with.”
Molly has lived at Westende for 25 years.
“I’m happy here,” she said.
“I lost my husband nine years ago, and my family is happy to know that I’m surrounded by friends.
“My week just flies by.”
Two years resident Maureen agreed: “The community spirit here is lovely,” she said, “and if anything needs repairing, it’s dealt with really quickly.
“It’s comfortable and very convenient for the town centre.
“My flat was heaven sent.”
Phil moved in at the beginning of this September, having previously lived in a campervan, and before that on a narrowboat.
“Arthritis meant I had to look for somewhere warmer and more comfortable,” he said.
“I’d been looking at shared accommodation, but that’s mostly for young professionals.
“I had heard of almshouses, and then this opportunity dropped out of the blue.
“I love my flat – it’s brilliant.”
Wokingham United Charities hosts social events for residents throughout the year,including summer strawberry tea, and Christmas dinner in the communal lounge.
Weekly activities include coffee and cake mornings, craft afternoons, bingo, and fish and chip Thursdays.
Wokingham.Today thanks The Wokingham Society which works to preserve the town’s heritage and landmarks, for providing access to historic local newspaper articles.
For more information, visit: www.wokinghamunitedcharities.org.uk, www.almshouses.org and www.wokinghamsociety.org.uk
