our history
Almshouses can be considered as the earliest form of social housing. The history of almshouses stretches back to the 10th Century and the oldest still in existence is the Hospital of St Oswald in Worcester founded circa 990.
Almshouses were, typically, founded by the Church or wealthy benefactors to enable elderly people who could no longer earn enough to pay rent to continue to live within their communities.
The history of the John Sayer Almshouses is limited. They have stood quietly in the centre of Berkhamsted for over 300 years and are still in use today as originally intended.
John Sayer
John Sayer was a loyal adherent to Charles II during his exile and became his chief cook after the Restoration. He lived in Berkhamsted Place.
Sayer’s acquaintances included the diarist Samuel Pepys who recorded the following passage in September 1661:
“I went with Captain Morrice into the King’s Privy Kitchen to Mr Sayers, the master Cook, and there had a good slice of beef or two to our breakfast; and from thence he took us into the wine cellar where, by my troth, we were very merry, and I drank so much wine that I was not fit for business”.
In his will dated July 1681, Sayer bequeathed £1000 in trust “for the building of an almshouse and the purchasing of lands for the relief of the poor in Berkhamsted St Peter”. He did not live long enough to finalise the details; his wife Mary dealt with implementing his wishes. The building cost £269, the balance being invested. She outlived John by 30 years.
John Sayer’s black and white marble tomb is located in the Lady Chapel of St Peter’s church on the High Street.
The Latin inscription on Sayer’s tomb translates:
John Sayer, Esquire, to his most serene highness King Charles II chief cook, constantly attached to him in the most difficult times both at home and abroad in his kingdoms of England and Scotland. Towards God singularly pious, towards needy neighbours especially he always exercised charity, and he left £1,000 to the poor of this town of Berkhamsted, deferring its disposal to the prudence of his most beloved wife Mary by whom he left behind three sons of excellent character, John, Edward and Joseph. He died the 11th day of February 1682. Aged 63
Further Endowments
The almshouse endowment consisted of a rent charge of some land and income from an orchard behind the almshouse. The orchard was later the site of the Gem Cinema and this land was sold by the trustees in the 1930s. Further endowments came from Martha Deere (1784), George and Elizabeth Nugent (1830 / 3) and John Finch (1861). Nugent’s indenture included a comment that the existing almshouse funds were insufficient. A legacy to support the Sunday School would also pass to the almshouses should the Sunday School fail. Elizabeth Nugent noted she had paid £200 as per her brother’s will but wished to increment that sum by £200. She added that her wish was that £1 per every 4 weeks should be distributed among the widows, especially as there was the case that Mr Sayer’s Benefaction was not payable to new residents till the Lady Day after admission.
Beneficiaries
The beneficiaries were 6 poor widows, aged over 55 and constant frequenters of the Church of England. This was later modified to Christians, with a preference for the Church of England, and single women. They had to have lived in Berkhamsted for ten years and be at least 55 years of age. New residents could only be appointed at the Feast of the Annunciation. Each widow was given 8 shillings a month, and a cloth gown every three years. Only one widow could be absent at any one time, and not for longer than a month in any year. They had to attend church every Sunday, walking there in pairs. Failure to do so meant a threepence fine; regular failure could lead to permanent exclusion. The youngest widow had to look after the sick, and open and unlock the gates at specific times. Failure would lead to a two shilling fine, with possible permanent exclusion after reprimands.
Modern Changes
In 1916 the land behind the almshouses, which had first been an orchard and later the Gem Cinema, was sold. Gas and water were connected in 1930 and major improvements to the bathrooms and kitchens were made in 1950. This included building the coal bunker sheds where, we assume, the privies were once situated. The almshouses received their grade II listing.
In 1965 the houses were converted from six units to four, although the six front doors remain. When the High Street was renumbered, the numbering changed from 191-201 (odd) to 235-241 (odd).
In recent years, maintenance of the building has continued. This included re-pointing the chimneys in the 1990s. Unfortunately, some of the modern materials used such as cement pointing and gypsum plaster are now causing issues with damp on the inside walls. The charity is undertaking a major refubishment project to rectify some of these problems.
With thanks to Berkhamsted Local History and Museum Society and local historian, Colin Wilson, and the Herts Memories website