Salem Almshouses

Salem Almshouses are a pair of almshouses built in 1834, originally intended for 24 men and women. They were founded by Charles Roberts and constructed from snecked local stone rubble, featuring tie rods and a natural slate roof. The building has brick stacks with corbelled cornices and some old pots.

The almshouses are arranged in a U-plan, with three ranges facing a pitched stone courtyard that has a low wall (with missing railings) along the street. Each unit consists of one heated front room, a rear service room, and an axial stair cell between them. The interior plans have been modified to include a shared bathroom for every two units, with separate access.

The structure is two storeys high, with segmental-headed windows and doorways. The doorways feature recessed plank and cover strip doors, while the windows have flat stone arches and attractive, tall, three-light casements, each with ten panes per light and Gothick arched heads on the upper panes. The main range has a symmetrical design with eight windows (including false, painted windows), with doors on the left and right sides and two pairs of doors towards the centre. Each unit has one window on the ground floor and one on the first floor, plus painted windows on the first floor to maintain symmetry. The projecting return ranges each have three doors and three windows.

The gable ends of the return ranges feature one ground and one first-floor window that match the others, along with stone plaques in the gables. The left-hand range reads, "Salem almshouses erected by Charles Roberts 1834 for 24 men and women," while the right-hand range states, "he that giveth to the poor lendeth to the Lord." There are some later additions at the rear.

Inside, unit No. 6 has been inspected and retains original wall cupboards with strap hinges, a boxed stair, and a plank door between the front and rear rooms. Salem Almshouses are located near the rear of Penrose almshouses on Litchdon Street and represent a late example of a well-designed set of almshouses in Barnstaple and Pilton.