This is an extension of what has been going on since Biblical times; see the Parable of the Widow's mite? Alms were given out to the poor; the beggars of the parish. I would suggest that almshouses are the forerunners of housing associations (at least what was known as housing associations before 1974). In Victorian times they were highly paternalistic and interfered greatly in the day to day behaviour of "their" tenants; see Octavia Hill; Guiness Trust etc. Workhouses were based on the notion that the idle should have to work to put a roof over their heads; a punishment for not providing for themselves. Almshouses were about the 'feel-good' factor; the 'pennies in heaven' notion that by handing out a few pounds whilst alive a rich person might just get into the 'Kingdom of Heaven' (see bible again ref: camel and eye of needle) or at least ease their conscience for grinding their local employees into the ground to make their fortune in the first place. See also Model villages such as New Lanark; the influence of Clark's shoemakers on the behaviour of the residents of Street village in Somerset. Philip Maddocks ----- Original Message ----- From: "Caroline Bradford" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Friday, June 17, 2011 6:57 AM Subject: Re: [SRY] A death in the almshouse > Hello Bill > > Almshouses were, in a sense, the forerunners of workhouses. They were > founded, often by Livery Companies, corporate bodies or private wealthy > individuals, as homes for the elderly deserving poor. Residents were > often > subject to quite strict rules, especially in relation to religious > observance. By the 19th century, getting a place in an almshouse would > have > been a stroke of luck for an elderly person, Ann would have had to have > quite limited means to qualify. The "Little Almshouse" in Croydon was > founded in the sixteenth century by the Parish of Croydon on land owned by > the existing Elis David Almshouse (established a century or more earlier > by > Elias David, a City mercer). > > If your Ann ended her days in an Almshouse then it is highly probable that > the money had somehow been spent, or had never existed. Just because a > will > appears to leave this, that and the other does not mean it actually > exists. > Wills could be made some years in advance of death and it is not that > uncommon for the actual estate to be somewhat different from the assets > referred to in a will. > > Hope this helps > > Caroline > >>