Langley Sept 1 55
In 1617, Sir John Kederminster, Keeper of Langley Park, founded the oldest group, south of the Church. There were 4 cottages, together with an acre of orchard and gardens for them to use. In 1649 written arrangements were made to safeguard the intended use of the property, together with a set of Rules for the Residents. Sir John died in 1631, but he had written down plans to expand the accommodation, and his Heir, Dame Elizabeth carried out his will, along with other locals and her husband Sir John Parsons. Various plots of land in Burnham, Dorney and Langley produced an annual income of £1. Each resident was allowed a shilling a week. New gowns were purchased every 2 years, some was for repairs, and the Vicar got 6/8p. Visitors to the Library received a few pence. ( already a tourist attraction)
In 1669 Henry Seymour bought Langley Park and in 1674 became the Lord of the Manor of Langley Marish. He and his brothers built the block North of the Church. These were for 4 protestant people, 2 men, 2 women, single and well behaved. These were financed by rental from property in High Wycombe – then known as ‘Chipping Wycombe’. Henry left £100 in his will to extend the cottages to provide 2 more residences. Look carefully next time you go past and you can see the join
In 1839 William Wild a non- conformist from a farming family set up Almshouses in Horsemoor Green. These were let to Agricultural labourers. These were replaced, because of the road widening on the High Street in 1955 and 4 bungalows were built .
In 1972 two blocks of flats and a Warden’s flat were built behind the bungalows. The block of 6 is named after John Trelawney. He was a wealthy businessman who had links with the Wild family and left money to provide warm clothing for 15 labouring men and 30s to the Vicar.
Chert house is the further block of 4. Named after Benjamin Chert, from Windsor, who about 1730 bought some land for the ‘weekly relief of the poorest inhabitants of Langley’. The rent was used to supply bread to the poor.
Many other individuals have nourished the Almshouses in Langley. The land has gradually been sold off and the United Charities now only hold a piece of farmland near Market Lane. The money made from the sale for building in the 1950’s has been invested and has enabled us to renovate the oldest cottages. Seymour in 2012 and Kedemister in 2014. The work on Seymour cottages won a President’s Award from the Prince of Wales, head of the Almshouses Association
The Charity Commission was formed in 1853 to oversee the running of registered charities.
New trustees were appointed in 1861 we have seen the original document. many of the names are familiar, having been used for road names.
The current governing instruments of the Charity stem from 1912
The Warden was first appointed in 1920 a ‘Resident Caretaker Attendant’ The Woman appointed was to live in one of Seymour cottages, until the Flat was built above the bungalows in 1972
Richard Suter was born in Greenwich, Kent on 30th March 1798, to William Suter and his wife Sarah Knights. On 7th January 1825 he married Anne Ruth Burn.
English architect. As Surveyor to The Fishmongers' Company he designed the severe Presbyterian churches for Ballykelly (1825–7) and Banagher (1825) on the Company's Estate in County Londonderry, drawings of which were exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1827. He was also responsible for the Model Farm (1823–4), the Lancasterian Schools (1828–30), the Company Agent's House (1830–2—now a hotel, much altered), a range of houses on the south side of the main road (1823–4), the lodge in the Presbyterian churchyard (1828), and the Dispensary (1829), all at Ballykelly, and all Classical. As Surveyor to Trinity House Corporation, he designed houses that were erected by Thomas Cubitt in 1821–3 on a site adjoining Trinity House. For The Fishmongers' Company he designed St Peter's Almshouses, Wandsworth, London (1849–51), and The Old School-House, Gresham's School, Holt, Norfolk(1859), in an Elizabethan style.
On the 1841 Census Richard, an architect and lawyer, can be found living in London with his wife Ann (listed as Ruth) and their two children, Richard George and Andrew Burn. Living with them is Edward D Suter. 1851 finds the family living in Tottenham Court in London, by this time Andrew had left the home, but I am unable to trace him on the 1851 Census. In 1860 Andrew marries Amelia Damaris Harrison. Both Richard George and Andrew were to become ordained ministers, with Andrew later becoming a Bishop and emigrating to New Zealand. Sadly in 1854 Anne Ruth was to pass away. In 1861, widowed Richard, Justice of the Peace for Maidenhead, is living at Castle Hill, Maidenhead, Berkshire. In 1862 he married Elizabeth Anne Pocock. In 1871 and 1881 Richard and Elizabeth are still living in Castle Hill. Richard was to pass away on 1st March1883.
Richard Suter & Annesley Voysey, architects, had their office at number 35 Fenchurch Street, but they did not have it all to themselves as they shared the premises with W.C. Franks, a tea broker, who will get a separate post some other time. The earliest mention I found of Richard Suter in Fenchurch Street is in 1832 when he is listed at that address in a list of contributing members of the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts. It says that he had been a member since 1829, but that does not mean he was already at 35 Fenchurch Street in that year.(1) In fact, that seems unlikely as the Sun Fire Office records give Messrs. Short and Co., merchants, as paying the insurance premium on the premises in May 1830. The Directory of British Architects 1834-1914 give the year 1827, but I do not know on what evidence. When Suter and Voysey became partners is also uncertain, but they had known each other since at least 1825 as Suter is named as one of the executors of Voysey’s will which was dated 22 July, 1825. The address given for Suter in the will is Suffolk Street, Southwark. Voysey then lives at Conway Street, Fitzroy Square.