13 / 60
13
Newbury Almshouses:
yesterday and today
This is the story of philanthropy and
welfare and how the need for charity
or “alms for the poor” in the field of
housing has never gone away; of how
almshouses in Newbury came to be so
important and why they are still needed
today.
They have the potential to comprise a
significant proportion of social housing,
for which there remains a growing and
urgent need.
It is also a tale about Mrs Mabel Luke,
a lady of North Hampshire, who in 1928
bought land and built four almshouses
in Newbury.
One of the trustees of the charity TONY
VICKERS explains the history behind
the almshouses and how the charity
aims to continue to stay true to Mabel
Luke’s legacy and help more families in
the process.
Pictures: Phil Cannings