DID you know that some of the oldest habitable houses in the UK are right here in Oxfordshire?

And not only are they available to let but are probably the cheapest houses in the county.

These are the Ewelme Almshouses.

Founded in 1437 with a licence granted by King Henry VI, the 13 properties have provided homes to the elderly and needy for more than 550 years.

The current residents describe themselves as fantastically lucky – the only downside to their idyllic existence is they have to put up with bus loads of tourists gawping at their beautiful homes, set in one of the most picturesque villages in Oxfordshire just outside Wallingford.

The Ewelme Trusts, which manage these almshouses, were originally founded by the Duke of Suffolk, William de la Pole, as a chantry – the 15th century equivalent of a charity – to serve the poor and needy of the village when they reached the end of their working life.

He not only endowed the 13 almshouses but also an astounding property portfolio that funds their work – 75 properties including Ewelme Manor House (all that now remains of the Duke’s former home, Ewelme Palace), the village church, the CofE school next door (all Grade I listed), two pubs and a building that is now an Indian restaurant.

They also own a farming village in Buckinghamshire and a few houses in Hampshire.

It all amounts to a small empire, which brings in some £1m a year. The vast majority of that goes on maintaining the properties, most importantly the trusts’ 23 almshouses – 13 in Ewelme and 10 more in their Buckinghamshire village, Marsh Gibbon.

Patrick Gosset, one of nine trustees, said: “In 500 years we’ve never advertised for residents, but we feel it might be of interest to people to know that this charity exists and they could take advantage of it.”

The trustees could invite anyone they want to live in their almshouses, but they adhere to a strict code based on the terms of the original 1437 licence.

Trusts manager James Oliver explained: “The people who live in our almshouses tend to be those who have worked hard in their life, often for low pay. When they come to us they are people who are elderly or of limited means who can’t afford anywhere else.”

Although the trustees don’t wish to disclose the exact weekly charge, they describe it as “extraordinarily low”, and, compared to rents anywhere else in Oxfordshire, it is.

Trustees also give preference to people who have lived locally. Residents must be well enough to live independently.

Pets are not allowed.

Current residents include a former Merchant Navy seaman, a former world-class sportsman, an ex-physiotherapist and a former almshouses warden.

Each house has a bedroom, a sitting room, bathroom, a kitchen and a garden.

Every resident is entitled to use one of the on-site allotment plots and the almshouses have their own warden, Dee, who checks in on them and can help with shopping and other chores.

Every applicant has to fill out a form and then have an interview to make sure they meet the trustees’ definition of “deserving”.

Another quirk of the almshouse system is that the people who live in these houses are not tenants and they do not pay rent – trustees describe their residents as “licensees” who pay a “contribution”.

The flip side of this quasi-legal arrangement is that residents do not have to be legally evicted. If trustees feel someone isn’t playing by the rules then they can “set aside the appointment”, although this is a very rare contingency.

Trustees see themselves as having a moral obligation to help the needy, so it helps that the vicar of Ewelme is required to be a trustee himself.

The current vicar, the Rev Jonathan Meyer, said: “Our almshouses give housing to people who would be struggling to live otherwise.

“We do have quite a rigorous way of deciding who they are, but the most important thing is they need to have a need.”

See ewelmealmshousecharity.org for more information.

‘We’re looking after it for future generations’

When Vincent and Brenda Bebbington first saw Ewelme Almshouses they said it was “like stepping back in time”.

The couple, 76 and 75, have now lived in their little house for some 15 years and are as much in love with it as ever.

Originally from Middlesex, Mrs Bebbington had a career as a stock records clerk for various companies including Heathrow Airport.

Mr Bebbington was a lorry driver for most of his career but became a world-class weightlifter and sportsman in his spare time.

He still keeps his hand in – last year he became amateur 10-pin-bowling world champion.

The couple lived in Middlesex most of their life, then their daughter Teresa Sherwood married and her husband was stationed at RAF Benson.

When they retired, the couple moved to Cholsey for four years and lived in a mobile home, but money became tight and Mrs Bebbington started to lose her mobility.

Mrs Bebbington, now a grandmother-of-three, remembered: “We saw an advert in the Benson magazine for the almshouses so we applied.

“It just seemed to be the right thing at the right time. We love it here.

“The village is steeped in history and we have someone who checks on us and makes sure we’re okay – there is a real sense of community.”

Trustees offer their residents regular activities – coach trips, concerts, talks and meals at Christmas and Easter.

Mr Bebbington, who grows potatoes, tomatoes and onions at his on-site allotment, said: “They really look after us.

“There’s a real community – everyone makes each other laugh.”

Looking around the eaves of their 15th century cottage he added: “We see ourselves as caretakers of this place – we’re just looking after it for the next generation.”

‘I found myself at 60 without support’

Sally Fehr worked hard her whole life, but one day she found herself over 60 and without the means to support herself.

Born in Chester, she always had links with Oxfordshire – her maternal grandparents lived in Wantage and she attended Rye St Antony School in Oxford.

After school, she enrolled on a secretarial course, then worked as a PA for most of her career, first in the City of London, and then in schools.

She married, had one daughter, then divorced.

For her last job she worked as a PA for Gillian Rowe-Dutton, widow of former British Railways Board chairman Peter Parker, at her home in Minster Lovell.

When that came to an end, she said: “I found myself well over 60 without much in the way of support.

“All I had was a state pension and my very small pension from work.

• Sally Fehr talks to reporter Pete Hughes about living at the almhouses 

“When I divorced I decided I probably wasn’t going to have enough to buy a house anyway so I did a lot for my daughter instead, and she has rewarded me over the years.”

Ms Fehr had heard of almshouses before so she wrote to the National Almshouses Association to ask if there were any near her that she might apply for.

The association wrote back and gave her a list of nearby groups: she wrote letters of application to all of them and was turned down by every one.

But, unbeknown to her, one of her letters had been passed on to James Oliver, trusts manager at Ewelme Almshouses, who wrote to her to offer her an interview.

She passed their test with flying colours.

At the time she did not have a choice of almshouses other than Ewelme, but now she says: “I’m quite convinced this is by far the nicest.

“What could be better? The countryside is gorgeous, my flat is beautiful and Ewelme is a lovely village.

“Everyone here is so friendly.”

Ms Fehr, 74, now works one day a week at the village community shop, regularly visits her daughter in Abingdon, and is a member of the Friends of Ewelme Church.

She is currently helping them to organise a talk on the history of education at the church by Professor Nicholas Orme of Exeter University, to be held on March 4.

And when she says she could not be happier, it is clear she really means it.