Old Houses, Leek (Dating from 1696)

The Inscription on the plaque above the double window in the gable end of these Almshouses reads:

The Gift of
Elizabeth ASH Widow
the Eldest Daughter of
William JOLLYFE Esqr.
Anno Dom. 1696

According to the The National Gazetteer of Great Britain and Ireland (1868), the Almshouses were for eight widows, who receive a weekly allowance of 3s. 4d. Interesting also is the fact that all other sources online state that their endowment was in 1676, whereas the plaque definitely records the year as 1696.

(Transcription provided by Rosemary Lockie)