Slee'S Almshouses

Slee's Almshouses are a pair of almshouses founded in 1610 by George Slee for six single women. They were likely renovated in the 1840s and have seen further renovations in the 20th century. The building is constructed of stone rubble and timber, topped with a slate roof that has a gable at the right end and an end stack with a brick shaft.

The original layout consisted of six single rooms, three on each floor, and in 1790, it was noted that the almshouses had galleries in front, with both the upper and lower rooms floored with timber. Small herb gardens were located behind the building, but there was no chapel. The gallery is now glazed on the first floor.

The exterior features two storeys and an asymmetrical front with six windows. There are two segmental-headed doorways on the front, which likely have renewed plank and cover strip front doors. Between the doors and at the outer ends of the front are pairs of segmental-headed windows, fitted with 2-light casements that have square leaded panes. A projection at the right end also features a plank and cover strip front door.

The gallery frontal, which has been renewed, is made of timber with plain sunk panels and is glazed above with eight continuous 2-light windows that have Tudor arched heads, square leaded panes, flat-faced mullions, and roll-mouldings.

Historically, in 1842 and 1847, the almshouses were described as being in a dilapidated state. A chest tomb for George Slee can still be found in the parish church of St Peter, located between the chancel and the north chancel chapel.