Step inside: the Whitgift Almshouses are more than 400 years old. Next month, they will be open to the public on special, free guided tours
Croydon’s oldest building is opening its gates to the public for expert guided tours, as part of local history month in May.
Thousands walk past the Whitgift Almshouses in Croydon town centre every day, but few give it a second glance.
Now locals will get a rare chance to step inside the historic courtyard, peer at the artworks that adorn the chapel and visit the audience chamber, in buildings that have stood the test of time for more than four centuries.
The Hospital of the Holy Trinity, as it was originally known, was built in 1596 by Archbishop John Whitgift, with the blessing of Queen Elizabeth I, a landmark on the corner of what we today know as George Street and North End. The stone building with its distinctive bright blue door is one of the town’s most historic buildings.
Free tours to mark Local and Community History Month offer a chance to step inside.
Among the highlights of the guided tour is a one-handed clock dating back to a time when minutes could not be counted accurately, and an original fireplace bearing Archbishop Whitgift’s initials.
Place of peace: the Almshouses chapel continues to be used by residents today
In 1923, the Almshouses were saved from demolition by the intervention of the House of Lords. They are now Grade I-listed and the most historic building in the Central Croydon Conservation Area.
The tours will take place at 10.30am and 11.45am on Saturday, May 16.
Places are free but numbers will be limited. Booking is advised, and a booking link will be added to the Whitgift Foundation website at midday on Friday, May 1.
Due to the building’s historic nature, tours are not fully accessible and they will involve climbing narrow stairs.
There will be a further opportunity to visit the Whitgift Almshouses in September, as the Foundation will once again take part in the Open House Festival. More details will be shared closer to the time.
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