St Faith St Hilda St Joan St Monica

1. ARGYLE ROAD 5127 Nos 12 to 26 (even) St Hilda, St Monica, St Joan, St Faith) (Formerly St Bartholomew Close) SU 4666 NE 7/9 10.6.69

II GV

1. Circa 1670 almshouses erected by Alderman P Jemmett of London, possibly a conversion of a C16 open-fronted brick shed. (Trans Newbury Field Club 6, 157). The original almshouses consisted of one-up and one-down with a wide fireplace and a semi-circular newel staircase. Extensively reconstructed 1929 as homes for retired nurses. An inscription panel states: Farm buildings 1550/J H Winchcombe/Almshouses 1670/ Philip Jemmet/Reconditioned 1929/W Essex Wynter. Wing plan. Two storeys with gable attic dormers. Tiled roof. Red brick ground floor, partly rendered. Timber framed 1st floor with close studding and plaster panels. Mostly 2-light casement windows with leaded lights. The part has gabled central 2 storey porch and over the entrance is reset an ancient, somewhat weathered achievement of the Arms of the Brewers Company dated 1670. At the rear are 2 gables. Jemmett's almshouses were successively known as Church Cottages, Raymond's Buildings and St Bartholomew's Close. (Country Life, 23 July 1943, 158).

Listing NGR: SU4688466552