Almshouses wall

HWW All, hope you're enjoying the week and that your weather is more cheerful than the soggy, grey and windy state of Somerset.

Sir Edward Hext built these almshouses back in 1626. Unfortunately he died and never saw the houses finished but his widow took over the project until its completion. They are now known as the Hext Almshouses.

The eight original houses were inhabited by eight men who were unable to work.The men were paid in coal and a monthly stipend to live there. In return they had to attend church every Sunday, non-attendance incurred a fine.
The houses were renovated and reduced to four, maintaining the original facade, in the last century, the original 8 houses considered too small. In recent years there have been 3 new almshouses added behind the original set.

(info from Somerton Community Website)