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Summary

Orme's Almshouses, Louth

Full description

[This record includes PRN 47188 which has now been deleted]
James Fowler built the Orme's almshouses on Eastgate in 1885. They are Jacobean in style set in a L-Shaped range set back from the street. {1}{2}

Orme Almshouses were endowed for ten poor men by the Revd Frederick Orme rector of Lydon (Rutland) in 1885. Ten almshouses and a porter's lodge, designed by James Fowler, were built on the site of the old prison on Eastgate. The almshouses sit in an ornamental acre of grounds. {3}{4}{5}

The Orme Almshouses and gardens were constructed on part of the site formerly occupied by the House of Correction in Louth. The land was sold to the Revd Frederick Orme who, being 'desirous of erecting Almshouses for aged pensioners and a Lodge-House', established an Almshouse Trust in January 1885. Ten almshouses and a detached warden's lodge were built between 1885-1888, designed by the Louth architect James Fowler. Each almshouse had a covered porch, living room, bedroom, kitchen and (originally) an outside toilet and coalhouse. The ten almshouses are arranged in two terraces of 4 and 6 dwellings to the north and east of a central garden, and the principal elevations of both terraces face the garden. The two-storey warden's lodge is arranged in a 'T' plan, of plainer design than the almshouses. The whole site is enclosed by a low brick wall with stone coping topped by the original iron railings, some with finials, and occasional brick piers. The buildings are of red brick with stone dressings and slate coverings to the roofs. With the exception of the replacement rear extensions, the buildings are little altered externally. In each almshouse, the main entrance leads into the living room with a kitchen and bedroom to the rear. Access to the bathroom is from the kitchen. Internally, central heating and hot water systems have been installed and the warden's lodge was refurbished in 1981. No original fireplaces are thought to remain in the almshouses, but the plan-form, joinery and some original features survive. For the full description of this listed building please refer to the National Heritage List for England. {6}{7}

<1> Nikolaus Pevsner and John Harris, with Nicholas Antram, 1989, Buildings of England: Lincolnshire (Second Edition), P544 (Bibliographic Reference). SLI1062.

<2> Ordnance Survey, 1902-06, 25 Inch County Series Map - Second Edition, 1905; 48/14 (Map). SLI3566.

<3> Linda Crust, 2002, Lincolnshire Almshouses: Nine Centuries of Charitable Housing, Page 61 (Bibliographic Reference). SLI9009.

<4> QuBE Planning Ltd., 2008, Louth Conservation Area Appraisal, Lower Eastgate character area (Report). SLI12156.

<5> Kaye, David and Scorer, Sam, 1992, Fowler of Louth. The Life and Works of James Fowler, Louth Architect 1828-1892, p.73 (Bibliographic Reference). SLI13339.

<6> English Heritage / Historic England, 2011->, Advice Report from a Heritage Asset Assessment, Case No. 478755 (Unpublished Document). SLI13505.

<7> Historic England (formerly English Heritage), 2011->, The National Heritage List for England, 1415542 (Website). SLI13386.

Monument Types

• ALMSHOUSE (Post Medieval to Modern - 1885 AD to 2050 AD)
• GARDEN (Post Medieval to Modern - 1885 AD to 2050 AD)
• LODGE (Post Medieval to Modern - 1885 AD to 2050 AD)
• WALL (Post Medieval to Modern - 1885 AD to 2050 AD)

Associated Events

• Site visit as part of Louth Conservation Area Appraisal
• Site visit to Orme Almshouses, Eastgate, Louth

Protected Status

• Conservation Area
• Listed Building

Sources and further reading

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