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Woodbridge 1855 Whites Directory
Transcribed by Colin Ager
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SEKFORDE’S HOSPITAL. – Queen Elizabeth, in the 29th year of her reign, by
letters patent, gave license to Thos. Sekforde, Esq., (Master of the Requests,)
to found an almshouse of seven tenements lately built by him at Woodbridge, for
the constant residence of thirteen poor men, twelve of them to occupy six of the
tenements, and one to occupy the seventh, and to be called the Principal; and
her Majesty thereby ordained that the Chief Justice of the Common Pleas, and the
lord of the manor of Sekforde Hall, (see page 248,) if he should be the
heir-male of the body of the late Thomas Sekforde, Esq., - if not, the Master of
the Rolls of the Court of Chancery, - should be governors of the almshouse, and
of the lands and possessions thereof; and that they should be a body corporate,
and should have power to make statutes and ordinances for the government of the
almspeople. In 1587, the founder ordained that the thirteen almsmen should have
the use of the gardens, and about three acres of land near the almshouse, and of
the well or fountain in his newly enclosed park in Woodbridge; and that they
should have a yearly supply of fuel and gowns, and each an annual stipend of �5,
except the Principal, who should have �6. 13s. 4d. yearly. He also gave a
tenement called Copt Hall, and two acres of land, for the use of three poor
widows, to be nurses to such of the poor men as should be sick or infirm, and to
have each a yearly stipend of �2. 13s. 4d. By his will in the same year, he
endowed the almshouse with various houses, buildings, yards, gardens, and other
pieces of land in the parish of St. James, Clerkenwell, London, then of the
yearly value of �112. 13s. 4d. This estate is now one of the most improving
parts of the metropolis, and had increased, in 1768, to the yearly value of
�563. In 1826, and Act of Parliament was obtained to enable the governors of the
almshouses to grant building and other leases, to take down many of the old
buildings, to erect new premises and repair and alter old ones, and to lay out
new street on the charity estate in Clerkenwell, which now comprises Sekforde
street, Woodbridge street, Suffolk street, one side of St. John street,
Aylesbury street, St. James’ walk, Prison walk, and Corporation row. This
estate, including the building upon it, belonging to the almshouse, produced in
1830 a rental of more than �3000 per annum; but as a great part of the most
valuable building sites in the new streets were then unlet, the yearly rental is
now more than �4000, and the Governors have a funded stock of about �8000 for
the future extension of the charity. The Charity Commissioners, in 1830, were
informed by the governors soliciter that no alterations has been made in the
allowances to the almspeople, or other payments, since 1768, when the rental of
the estate was only �563 per annum, but that it was the intention of the
governors, as soon as the building ground was let, to apply for an Act of
Parliament for the future regulation of the charity funds; and that the sum of
�3456, three per cent. stock, and all other savings of the income, had been
expended in obtaining the Act of Parliament of 1826, in redeeming the land tax –
in building new sewers, drains, and arched cellars – in forming new roads, and
in otherwise improving the Clerkenwell estate. In 1838, the yearly rental of
this estate, and the accumulated stock of unapplied income, had so greatly
increased that the governors determined to double the number of the almspeople;
and for their reception they commenced in the same year the erection of a large
and handsome NEW HOSPITAL, in a pleasant and elevated situation, on the two
acres of land called Copt Hall, near the Old Almshouses, which were new fronted
in 1824, and are now divided into tenements, which are let at low rents to poor
families. The New Hospital was finished about 1840, and cost about �17,000,
including the expense of furniture, laying out the grounds, &c. It is in the
Elizabethan style, and is a fine specimen of ornamental brick work, reflecting
great credit on the architect, Mr. Cockerell, and on the builder, Mr. George
Thompson, of Woodbridge. The principal front is 337 feet in length, and has an
elegant chapel in the centre, on either side of which is an open arcade, under
which are the entrance doors to the almshouses. The chapel has oak fittings,
including stalls for the governors, churchwardens, and almspeople, as well as
accommodation for some of the parishioners. In some of the principle apartments
are fine portraits of the founder and other members of the Sekforde family. Each
of the 32 almspeople has two comfortable rooms and a plot of garden ground. The
terrace in front of the Hospital is 560 feet long, and the elegant iron entrance
gates are richly emblazoned in bronze and gold with the arms of the founder; of
the late governors; and of the governors at the time of rebuilding the Hospital,
viz., Lord Langdale and Sir Nicholas Tindale; - the governors of the charity
being the master of the Rolls and the Lord Chief Justice for the time being.
Behind the hospital is a cemetery, with an ornamental brick and stone entrance.
The grounds are tastefully laid out, and at the eastern gate is a lodge for the
gardener and porter. The yearly stipends now paid to the almspeople are �20 to
each of the six women and �25 to each of the 26 men, except the Principal who
has �80 a year, and has the superintendence of the other inmates, under the
direction of the chaplain and churchwardens, who appoint the almspeople. The
Chaplain or “Minister” is the perpetual curate of Woodbridge Parish Church, and
he has now a yearly salary of �100, for reading prayers and performing divine
service in the Hospital Chapel. The two churchwardens are each allowed �25 per
annum for superintending the affairs of the Hospital. The inmates are also
provided with clothing, coals, and medical attendance. In these salaries,
allowances, repairs, &c., the governors expend in Woodbridge upwards of �1500
per annum, and they distribute certain sums yearly among the poor of Woodbridge,
Clerkenwell, &c. The Rev. T. W. Meller, M.A., is chaplain to the Hospital, and
Mr. Wm. Kemp is the principle.
JOHN SAYER, in 1637, left 15A. 2R. 26P. of land at Melton, in trust, that the
rents thereof should be applied in a weekly dole of 15 twopenny loaves, and a
yearly distribution of clothing among the poor of Woodbridge. The land is partly
copyhold, and is let for about �30 a year, which is distributed by the
churchwardens in bread, of which 42 threepenny loaves are given every Sunday
among the aged poor attending the church. A yearly rent charge of 40s. left by
ALICE OSBORN, in 1622, out of her messuage called the Malting Office, is
distributed among the poor parishioner in coals. For a distribution of bread on
Candlemas-day they have a yearly rent charge 20s., left by GEORGE CARLOW, in
1738, out of a house in New street. In 1781, JOHN RUDLAND charged his estate at
Hasketon with the yearly payment of �3 to the pastor and deacons of the
Congregation Meeting House in Woodbridge, to be laid out in three gowns for
three poor widows of the parish, on the 2nd of April.
Woodbridge SAVINGS’ BANK was established in 1818, and is open every Monday
morning from 9 to 12 o’clock, at Mr. B. D. Gall’s, druggist, in the
Thoroughfare. In November, 1853, it had a separate surplus fund of �1099, and
deposits amounting to �55391, belonging to 1737 depositors, 49 charitable
societies, and 28 friendly societies. F. G. Doughty, Esq., is the secretary; Mr.
B. Gall, actuary; and Messrs. J. Loder and B. D. Gall, are the cashiers. Here is
a Branch of the Ipswich Freehold Land Society; and also several other Provident
Institutions, including Lodges of Freemasons, Odd Fellows, Druids, and
Foresters, and several sick clubs, friendly societies, &c. Woodbridge
Shipwrecked Seaman’s Benevolent Society was founded in 1840, under the patronage
of Lord Henniker, Lord Rendlesham, Sir E. S. Gooch, Major Spink, and many other
gentleman of the neighbourhood. It has now upwards of 163 seafaring members, and
pays about �94 a year to 22 widows. Mr. Wm. Keeble is the secretary. The East
Suffolk Hand-in-Hand Benefit Society and Sickness Club has stewards at
Woodbridge and other places, and has now about 100 members, and a stock
amounting to �578. Mr. H. Stirling is steward for Woodbridge. The want of a
Dispensary, for supplying the poor with medical and surgical assistance
gratuitously, or for small family payments, has long been felt at Woodbridge.
Woodbridge Public Houses