Trustees hunt for new tenants
5:00pm Wednesday 24th August 2011
- Comments(1)
HISTORIC Wantage almshouses have been given a new lease of life.
The Wantage Town Lands Governors charity, which runs the eight 19th century one-bedroom homes in Mill Street, raised the £256,000 to modernise six of the houses and their surroundings.
The Grade II listed properties, which date from 1868, were rewired, redecorated, with new heating and plumbing installed.
And the trustees of the charity are now looking for tenants to fill two vacant houses.
Work started more than a year ago, following a five year fundraising campaign, and is set to finish within the next two weeks.
Wantage and Didcot MP Ed Vaizey will officially open the homes next month.
Wantage Town Lands Governors trustee Ian Hermon said: “It feels good to think the efforts are now coming to fruition. They look very smart. It is important these properties are kept alive. They are
part of the town’s heritage.”
In keeping with the almshouse ethos, to live in one of the properties tenants must have a connection with Wantage and are usually elderly or needy.
Trustee Bill Jestico said: “I am delighted the refurbishment has worked out so well.
“It is such a vast improvement on the condition of the almshouses in recent years and we are looking forward to welcoming additional tenants in the near future.”
Project manager Don Fisher, a chartered surveyor, said: “They had become outdated and they were in need of modernisation.
“They are important buildings and it’s important these sorts of buildings do get the necessary care and attention otherwise we will lose part of our heritage.”
He added: “It was a very interesting project to work on. Each of the properties had its own idiosyncrasies.”
Six of the homes are occupied and tenants were moved between houses while the work took place.
Tenancy applications can be made to the Wantage Town Lands Governors clerk Carol Clubb, 133 Stockham Park, Wantage, OX12 9HJ
Comments(1)
Zaxharias Ziegla
says…
5:34pm Wed 24 Aug 11
A pleasing development, and the local almhouse ethos is completely correct.
Zaxharias Ziegla
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