Spence's Court

Spence's Court is a group of almshouses dating back to 1693, renovated in 1872 and altered in 1974. The building is constructed of rubble with dressed stone, and has a stone slate roof. It follows a compact U-plan. The building has two storeys, with coped gables featuring kneelers and four stacks. The external detailing largely dates from 1974, when wide, boxed sash windows were added to the east wall and casements to the others. Splayed stone surrounds the windows in the gable walls.

A courtyard is enclosed by a short wall featuring substantial panelled gatepiers with pulvinated friezes, moulded cornices and ball finials. Simple wrought iron gates, possibly original, are set on these piers. Steps of stone lead to a wooden gallery supported by octagonal wooden columns, now extending across the far wall, but originally interrupted. Four original ground floor doors have architraves, as does the larger door of the chapel in the far walls. Two doors placed in the corners of the courtyard have since been blocked.

The interior has been altered to provide eight individual units, alongside a warden's flat, which was formerly a chapel and is more recently used as a wash-house. A long inscription records benefactions, including that of Ferrand Spence in 1698, Agnes Varditt Niven in 1872, and Jessie Blossom Coulthurst of Gargrave in 1955.