Numbers 1-8 St Mary'S Almshouses

Numbers 1-8 St Mary's Almshouses are a group of almshouses built in 1861, designed by George Hitch and constructed by James Hitch, replacing earlier 17th century buildings. They are made of plum-red brick in Flemish bond, featuring a stucco plinth, quoins, and window surrounds. The roofs are covered with old tiles, including a central band of fish-scale tiles and Welsh slate margins at the eaves, with red brick chimneystacks.

The almshouses have wings on both Church Street and Crib Street, with a diagonal entrance at the corner via a rear courtyard. The courtyard features galleries supported by a cast-iron surround, with long and short quoins and a head surround above a 3-light window. An inscribed tablet above reads 'rebuilt AD 1861', and there is a low gabled parapet with artificial stone kneelers and coping. The wings display stucco long and short quoins and 3-light windows with quoined surrounds, with two windows on the ground and first floors facing Church Street and four facing Crib Street. All windows were renewed in the 1980s with aluminium frames and plain glazing with planted lead strips.

These almshouses were originally established for widows in the early 17th century and are administered by the Ware Charity Trustees under an indenture from 1612. They serve as a focal point in the streetscape of Church Street and Crib Street.