These almshouses were built in 1868-1869 to the designs of the company’s architect, Herbert Williams. The charter says they are for ‘decayed sailmakers or their widows’. They were also available to deserving people from the parish who were referred to the Drapers’Company.
www.victorianlondon.org/houses/almshouses.htm
Bruce Grove has received £1million grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund to restore historic Victorian and Edwardian buildings under the ‘Bruce Grove Townscape Initiative (THI) project.
The almshouses lie within the estate of the 16th century Bruce Castle, now a local history museum, holding the archives of the London borough of Haringuey. The castle is on the site of the old Bruce Manor, held by the Bruce family of Scotland, lastly owned by Robert Bruce. When he became King of Scotland EdwardI seized his English estates, including Bruce Manor.
More information on alms houses