The Buildings

St Mary's Cottages

The four original cottages, which were converted into married quarters early last century, face onto St Martin's Square, with residents' access being from the communal garden on the east side.  As the staircases were very awkward for the elderly residents, listed building consent was granted to the Trust to convert and upgrade the accommodation into flats.  The work commenced in March 2005 and was completed by August of the same year.  The Cottages now offer much more accessible accommodation comprising one first floor and two ground floor flats.

St Mary's Lodge

The site at the north end of Little London was converted and extended from individual cottages into almshouses during the 1980's.  The accommodation consists of eleven flats with lift access facing onto a small courtyard garden to the west side.  It is some 500 metres walking distance from the medieval hospital. 

St Mary's Courtyard

The Courtyard, comprising eight flats, a meeting room, kitchen and laundry, is the most recent addition to the Trust's Almshouses accommodation.  The complex was opened by HRH Prince of Wales in June 2003 and it provides a 'cross roads' or meeting place for residents from nearby flats. It also enables an off street pedestrian access to the medieval hospital and chapel to the south.
The new flats are located on the east side of the courtyard providing five flats and a residents' guest flat, with vehicular access and parking to the north off Priory Road. At the north side of the courtyard and directly facing the medieval hospital across a linking garden, the Grade II listed hall conversion provides a meeting room, offices and facilities with two flats above. The courtyard includes seating, planting and fishpond. 
A sculpture was considered appropriate as an embellishment to the new building, and a public competition was launched by the Trustees. This resulted in over one hundred applications. The chosen winner, from four short listed contestants, was Helen Sinclair's group of five contemporary figures holding hands in a circle.  Her concept was based on the core group of five residents who occupied the hospital during the fifteenth century.