Horwoods Almshouses
HORWOODS ALMSHOUSES, CHURCH LANE
Listed on the National Heritage List for England. Search over 400,000 listed places
Overview
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- II*
- List Entry Number:
- 1385102
- Date first listed:
- 19-Jan-1951
- List Entry Name:
- Horwoods Almshouses
- Statutory Address:
- HORWOODS ALMSHOUSES, CHURCH LANE
Location
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Discover moreOfficial list entry
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- II*
- List Entry Number:
- 1385102
- Date first listed:
- 19-Jan-1951
- List Entry Name:
- Horwoods Almshouses
- Statutory Address 1:
- HORWOODS ALMSHOUSES, CHURCH LANE
The scope of legal protection for listed buildings
This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.
Unless the List entry states otherwise, it includes both the structure itself and any object or structure fixed to it (whether inside or outside) as well as any object or structure within the curtilage of the building.
For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.
The scope of legal protection for listed buildings
This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.
Unless the List entry states otherwise, it includes both the structure itself and any object or structure fixed to it (whether inside or outside) as well as any object or structure within the curtilage of the building.
For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.
Location
- Statutory Address:
- HORWOODS ALMSHOUSES, CHURCH LANE
The building or site itself may lie within the boundary of more than one authority.
- County:
- Devon
- District:
- North Devon (District Authority)
- Parish:
- Barnstaple
- National Grid Reference:
- SS 55872 33171
Details
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
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
- Legacy System number:
- 485564
- Legacy System:
- LBS
Legal
This building is listed under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 as amended for its special architectural or historic interest.
Map
This map is for quick reference purposes only and may not be to scale. This copy shows the entry on 07-Jun-2026 at 22:22:56.
Download a full scale map (PDF)End of official list entry
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