The Old Almshouses

The Old Almshouses are a hospital or almshouse, dating from 1663, built by William Catlyn for John, Lord Bellasyse. Later additions include an outshut to the left and alterations to the roof. The building is constructed of red brick in English bond, with tuck pointing to the pilasters and window surrounds and scored joints elsewhere; it also features rubbed brick and ashlar details. The roof is covered in pantiles and the style is Artisan Mannerist.

The building originally had a 2-room central entrance-hall plan. It presents a symmetrical facade with two storeys and five bays. A tall ovolo-moulded plinth sits beneath Doric pilasters between the bays, featuring painted moulded brick and ashlar bases and capitals decorated with carved ashlar tablets bearing the digits of the date. A flight of five stone steps leads to the recessed, round-headed pitch-pine entrance door, set within a painted brick surround with a rubbed brick archivolt and moulded imposts. The ground floor windows are 2-light casements with iron-framed leaded lights and chamfered ashlar sills, set in raised brick surrounds with ashlar tablets and rubbed brick entablatures. An entrance to the left outshut has a re-set pine door with Gothick panelling. The first floor windows are similar, linked by a raised brick frieze supported by pilasters, and topped by a painted brick modillion eaves cornice. The side returns have 2-course brick bands at first-floor and eaves level. The rear features a stair window, a later blocked opening below, a corbelled brick cornice with cogged and plain courses, and a pair of large 3-stage lateral stacks with 20th-century top sections.

Inside, the ground-floor rooms have ovolo-chamfered pitch-pine beams. An open well staircase has been altered, but may retain original moulded handrail. Lord Bellasyse, Baron of Worlaby, established the almshouse for four poor widows, and it remained in use until the present century. William Catlyn (1628-1709), Hull’s leading bricklayer-designer, was responsible for numerous buildings including Brigg Grammar School and likely Wilberforce House. A distinguished and important early brick building.