Story of Squires Almshouses built in 1795 in Walthamstow, East London

These Houses are / Erected and Endowed / For Ever / By Mrs. Mary Squires Widow / for the Use of / Six Decayed Tradesmens Widows / of this Parish and no other. Anno Domini 1795

The plaque on the front of the almshouses

The almshouses comprised six single rooms each supplied with a bedstead, stove and large water tub. Each resident received an annual pension of £5, later increased by a further £8, and they were allowed to supplement this by taking small washing and starching jobs, although hanging laundry outside the property was forbidden.

Eligibility criteria was strict. Mary had stipulated that the women had to be older than 50, although younger widows were considered if lame or visually impaired. They had to be a resident of the parish of Walthamstow, and a member of the established church; attendance at Sunday services was mandatory, unless illness prevented. Rules when living at the almshouses were also strict. No lodgers were allowed and men were forbidden from staying overnight. Decorous conduct was expected at all times, and if the women received more than two warnings for being quarrelsome, disturbing the peace or not being ‘sober and cleanly,’ they were evicted.

John Coe's 1822 map of Walthamstow. The almshouses are denoted by plot number 847

As the years passed, eligibility rules were relaxed a little, and from 1895 preference was given to widows facing reduced circumstances through misfortune, and from 1924 widows of non-tradesmen were considered.

The almshouses have been home to scores of women over the years, each with their own story and set of circumstances. Some of the former residents had been living in and around Church End (the former name of this corner of Walthamstow) before being accepted as almshouse residents, and some had connections with St Mary’s. Although lodgers were not allowed, family members are known to have stayed with residents over the years, probably in an unofficial capacity.

Church End in 1904. The almshouses are obscured by trees

One of the 19th century residents was Priscilla Maynard who lived there from the mid-1860s until the 1880s, and for some of this time her widowed daughter Sarah lived with her. Priscilla and her husband Robert had lived in Wood Street with their children before moving to a house in Church End, perhaps to be close to St Mary’s where Robert was a beadle and sexton. He was also a bankrupt, and when he died in 1865 Priscilla was accepted as an almshouse resident and moved into No. 1 where she lived until her death in 1886. She is buried in St Mary’s Churchyard with Robert, son Thomas, and his wife Esther. Priscilla’s next door neighbour at No. 2 was Ann Timms, who had lived at Church End with her gardener husband and their lodger, curate of St Mary’s. Ann herself had worked at the church undertaking general housekeeping duties. She died in 1880 aged 78 and is also buried at St Mary’s.

The almshouses pictured in the 1940s

One of the early 20th century almshouse residents was Emma Quarterman who moved into No. 6 after her husband died in 1899. They had lived at Maynard Road and Barclay Road with their daughter, supported by Henry’s work as a hair dresser and later as a music dealer. Emma was in her fifties when Henry died, a year after their daughter married. Emma was evidently unable to support herself financially, and so moved into the almshouses, joined by her young grandson in the early years. Her neighbour at No. 4 was Elizabeth Crisp, a blind resident, and her nurse Maria, also a widow, only 20 years or so younger than Elizabeth. Elizabeth and her husband George, a shoemaker, both hailed from Norfolk, but made Walthamstow their home where they raised their children. George died in 1898 and Elizabeth was a Squires resident until her death in 1911 aged 86; both are buried in St Mary’s churchyard.

A postcard image of the almshouses from the 1990s

In 1975 the almshouses were modernised with central heating, and the rear extension was reconstructed to incorporate a small bathroom and fully equipped kitchen for each unit. The six units were subsequently converted into four, allowing a separate bedroom and more spacious living accommodation, although six front doors remain. The almshouses were granted Grade II listed status in 1951 and are still in use today under the governance of the Walthamstow and Chingford Almshouse charity. Through them, Mary Squires’ remarkable charitable legacy continues.

Karen Averby is a seaside-loving historian and research consultant specialising in researching histories and stories of buildings, people and places. She researches house histories for private clients and collaborates in community heritage projects (karenaverby.co.uk). She is also director of Archangel Heritage Ltd, an historical research consultancy providing research services for the commercial heritage sector (archangelheritage.co.uk). Also found on Twitter @karenaverby and @archaheritage