Horwoods Almshouses

BARNSTAPLE

SS558331SE CHURCH LANE 684-1/9/92 (East side) 19/01/51 Horwood's Almshouses

GV II*

Almshouses. 1674 (old list description). Started under the patronage of Thomas Horwood, completed for his wife, Alice: thoroughly renovated. Painted stone rubble, elevation to Church Lane roughcast; natural slate roof with terracotta ridge tiles; stacks mostly dismantled; cast-iron rainwater goods; pitched stone paving to courtyard. Originally 8 dwellings for 16 inmates. L-plan range, the longer block backing onto Church lane, with an entrance through it to a courtyard. Smaller, 2-unit block behind, also parallel to Church Lane. 2 storeys. Street elevation blind except for courtyard entrance which has moulded timber doorway with elaborate ramshead stops with carved foliage detail. Slate plaque, a copy of a more worn plaque inside the courtyard records `This Alms Hous was founded & endowed by y worll Thomas Horwood merchant twice mayor of this towne who was a worthy benefactor and began it in his life, finished by his wife Mrs Alice Horwood after his death who of her owne accord added the adioying free school and endowed it for 20 poore children forever 1659 abi et tu fac similiter'. Inside the courtyard the main block has a regular 4-window range with 4 double ovolo-moulded door frames with blind scroll stops and stud and cover strip doors, mostly renewed, 2 on either side of the courtyard entrance, which has a similar door frame. Doors and windows have timber lintels. 3-light ovolo-moulded mullioned timber windows, glazed with diamond leaded panes, the opening casement hung on cockshead hinges. Ground-floor windows have lead drip ledges on moulded brackets. The shorter block of the L-shaped range has 2 doorways and one 2- and one 3-light window on the ground floor and two 3-light windows, with a very worn inscription tablet, copied on the exterior. The smaller, detached block has a brick stack at the right end and a symmetrical 2-window range with a central doorway matching the others and 2 ground- and 2 first-floor windows, also matching the others. INTERIOR: not inspected but said to be modernised. Bench with turned legs mentioned in 1973 list description said not to be on site. The almhouses are adjacent to Horwood's School (qv) of 1659.

Listing NGR: SS5587233171