Rushden Research Group: Higham Ferrers Borough

The Borough of Higham Ferrers
Housing

Higham Ferrers Almshouses

Newman’s Charity
The Corporation of Higham Ferrers have erected these houses for the purposes of the charity, the foundation stone having been laid on the 25^th day of June A.D.1866
By Henry Greene Esq. Senior Alderman in the Corporation.

The Trustees of the will of the late Mr George Newman of Higham Ferrers, are directed with and out of the funds bequeathed to them, to hire and provide from time to time suitable Cottages of Alms Houses or a suitable Cottage or Alms House, for the residence of six old women wither widows or spinsters, inhabitants of the
Parish of Higham Ferrers, and to pay each of such persons the sum of eight shillings per week for ever.

Permanent Dwellings [From a 1962 report]
Act	Scheme	No. of Houses
1919	Windmill Banks		20
1923	Westfields Street		4
1924	Simpson Avenue	36
1924	George Street	24	60
1925	Newman Street		28
1936	King's Avenue	40
	Newman Street	4
	Lancaster Street	2	46
1938	Upper King's Avenue		32
1938	Chichele Close		12
1946	High Street Estate		136
1946	Wharf Road Estate		26
1946	Upper George Street		38
1946	High Street and Westfields Terrace		10
1946	Midland Road		4
1946	Elizabeth Way		44
1949	Saffron Road		1
1957	Warmonds Hill		8
	Temporary Dwellings
1944	Upper King's Avenue	5
1944	Chichele Street	5	10
	Total		479

The Almshouses in 2011

Rushden Echo and Argus, 16th May 1947, transcribed by Kay Collins

Housing—Occupation of the borough’s first post-war permanent Council houses should begin almost immediately. There will be no formal opening ceremony. The first tenants were selected some weeks ago and the Housing Committee sat until midnight on Monday to select the second batch.

Higham Ferrers Index Page