Vachel Almshouses is a terrace of almshouses in the town of Reading in the English county of Berkshire.

Vachel Almshouses
Vachel Almshouses in 2011
Vachel Almshouses is located in Reading Central
Vachel Almshouses
Location within Reading Town Centre
Former namesSt Mary’s Almshouses
General information
StatusGrade II listed[1]
TypeAlmshouses
Architectural styleVernacular
AddressAlmshouses, Castle Street
Reading
Berkshire
United Kingdom
RG1 7SS
Coordinates51°27′08″N 0°58′34″W / 51.45228°N 0.976034°W / 51.45228; -0.976034
Completed1867[2]
Technical details
Floor count2
Design and construction
Architect(s)W H Woodman

History

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Plaque from original building

In 1634 almshouses were built in St Mary's Butts, which were called 'St Mary's Almshouses'. The almshouses were built by Thomas Vachel. A plaque fixed on the building reads:

Sr. Thomas Vachel Kt. erected there Alms-Houses Anno Dom. 1634, and endow'd them with Forty Pounds p. Annum for ever for the Maintenance of Six Poor Men.[2]

They were demolished in 1867 and replaced with new buildings at a new location in Castle Hill, with money coming from the sale of the land. The new almshouses were renamed Vachel Almshouses after Thomas Vachel. They were designed by architect William Henry Woodman. The Almshouses were modernised in 1960–62.[3][4]

References

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  1. ^ Historic England. "Vachel Almshouses (1154678)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 11 November 2023.
  2. ^ a b "Vachel Almshouses". Flickr. Retrieved 9 May 2011.
  3. ^ "St Mary's Almshouses". Julian Walker. Retrieved 9 May 2011.
  4. ^ "Almshouses". Reading History Trail. Archived from the original on 26 February 2009. Retrieved 22 January 2015.
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