William Portman Almshouses
History
The almshouses were established by Sir William Portman in 1643 to provide housing for six poor people. In April 1640, Portman was elected Member of Parliament for Taunton for the Short Parliament. He was re-elected for Taunton in November 1640 for the Long Parliament where he sat until February 1644 when he was disabled for supporting the Royalists He gave £40 per year from his Orchard Portman estate for the six "poor persons" dwelling in the almshouse.
The historical records of the almshouses are held by the South West Heritage Trust.
The building was restored in the 1970s when some of the windows were replaced and a new staircase added. It is still run as a charity providing housing.
Architecture
The building is of Blue Lias with hamstone dressings and a slate roof.
References
- ^ "Almshouses". National Heritage List for England. Historic England. Retrieved 26 August 2017.
- ^ "Almshouses, Staple Fitzpaine, Somerset". Historic England. Retrieved 26 August 2017.
- ^ Willis, Browne (1750). Notitia Parliamentaria, Part II: A Series or Lists of the Representatives in the several Parliaments held from the Reformation 1541, to the Restoration 1660 ... London. pp. 229–239.
- ^ Sixsmith, Rosemary Aileen (1958). Staple Fitzpaine and the forest of Neroche. p. 45.
- ^ "Sir William Portman Almshouse, Staple Fitzpaine". National ASrchives. Retrieved 26 August 2017.
- ^ "Amshouses". historicengland.org.uk. Historic England.
- ^ "William Portman Almshouses". Charity Commission. Retrieved 26 August 2017.