Building record 179/0/1 - Wright's Almshouses

In 1975-6, both the almshouses and the archway were moved alongside the Crewe almshouses at SJ 656 526. Excavation of the site failed to reveal any remains earlier than C17, suggesting site lay outside the medieval town.

<1> Pevsner N & Hubbard E, 1971, The Buildings of England: Cheshire, p.289 (Book). SCH3078.

Almshouses built by Sir Edmund Wright, native of Nantwich in 1638. He was Lord Mayor of London in 1641. Six two-storey brick cottages with mullioned windows. Good archway with Tuscan columns and big volutes, dated 1666.

<2> Hall J, 1883, A History of the Town and Parish of Nantwich or Wich-Malbank in the County Palatine of Chester, p.363-72 (Book). SCH80.

The archway and wall rebuilt nearer the houses in 1837.

<3> Ordnance Survey, 1870-1982, Ordnance Survey Archaeological Record Card, Waggott T, 1964, SJ65SE9 (Index). SCH2487.

<4> Department of the Environment, 1971-2005, List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest (Report). SCH1934.

<5> Historic England, 2011, The National Heritage List for England, 1039555 (Web Site). SCH6528.

Built 1638 by Sir Edmund Wright (Lord Mayor of London 1641). A block of 6 cottages; 2 storeys; brick with stone long and short quoins; moulded string course; quoined window and door surrounds; gable copings with ball feet; 6 iron casement windows with stone mullions and jambs and restored leaded lights (many now broken); 6 battern doors with moulded joints, restored; old tiled roof; good brick stacks. Carved centre stone panel with arms and partly defaced inscription. Unoccupied and in urgent need of repair when inspected but it is proposed to dismantle the building and re-erect it by Crewe's Almshouses in Beam Street.

<6> Collins J F N, 1971, Crewe's and Wright's Revival (Monograph). SCH1019.

Report written in 1971 in response to proposed demolition of Wright's Almshouses and associated gateway on Hospital Street. The significance of the almshouses is discussed and justification given to relocate them to a site adjacent to Crewe's Almhouses, Beam Street (CHER 179/0/45).

<7> Williams B, 1978, Archaeology in Nantwich, p.3 (Unpublished Report). SCH7365.

The 17th century almshouses were dismantled brick by brick and rebuilt close to Crewe's almshouses. The complex was converted for sheltered housing.

<8> Nantwich Town Council, 1977, Walkabout tour of Nantwich, p.10-11 (Booklet-Leaflet). SCH7371.

The Wright almshouses were moved from London Road to stand to the west of the Crewe Almshouses on the initiative of the Wright and Crewe Trustees assisted by the Charity Commissioners, the Pilgrim Trust, County and Borough Councils and others to provide sheltered accommodation to the elderly. A further block of almshouses were added financed by a legacy from Harriet Hope. The new parts were built using bricks and material from demolished buildings in the town and the whole complex opened in 1975.