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The Hibbert Almshouses

The eight Hibbert Almshouses in Wandsworth Road, London SW8 were built in 1859 to provide accommodation for older women from the Ancient Parish of Clapham. The building was commissioned by Sarah and Mary Ann Hibbert, in memory of their father William Hibbert, a long-term resident of Clapham.


The sisters ran the Almshouses themselves until Sarah Hibbert died in 1869, when The Hibbert Almshouse Charity, which had been established in 1864, became responsible.

Originally the dwellings had no bathrooms. These were added in the 1960s and have now been converted into shower-rooms. A £1.6M restoration project was completed in early 2024 to renovate the exterior of the almshouse building, and to improve equal access.

Otherwise the building is largely unchanged and generally in reasonable condition.  The building was designed by Edward I’Anson, a renowned London architect and surveyor.  The Almshouses are listed Grade II by English Heritage. The façade is a significant feature of the building and makes an impressive piece of streetscape.

 Applicants

The criteria for residence are that applicants should live in the Anglican parishes of Clapham – either at present or formerly, and be of State pensionable age, currently 67 years old and in financial need. 


With only eight houses, vacancies arise infrequently. If you wish to be put on our waiting list, you should contact us in writing or by email.


We will then send you an application form and you will be asked to let us know if you fall within our application criteria, and wish to be placed on our waiting list.


When a vacancy does arise, we will contact you and ask you to send us the completed application form.


The almshouses were originally intended for older poor women. Married couples and single men of the appropriate age are now also accepted as residents – though preference is given to women if there is more than one applicant when a house falls vacant. 


Residents are selected after investigation of applicants’ suitability and circumstances, and every appointment is made by the Trustees at a special meeting.

Management

The trust is governed by a board of voluntary, local Trustees, including ex officio the incumbent vicar of St Pauls Church, Clapham. 


Trustees are normally co-opted for a period of five years, though they can be re-appointed. Trustees look after HACs finances, insure the property and take responsibility for its upkeep. 


Responsibility for day-to-day management of the Almshouses was taken on by London Block Management Ltd., based in Islington, from 1st April 2019. 


There is a caretaker who visits daily to carry out immediate maintenance tasks and check on the well-being of residents.


The gardens are maintained by a contract gardener.

The Residents

We, the Trustees, believe that residents should enjoy independence and privacy while living in comfortable and secure accommodation. We also encourage residents to show concern for each other.


We have a full complement of residents at present. 


Each Summer the Trustees hold a garden party for the residents and on each resident’s birthday a trustee visits and gives him or her a present.

Hibbert Almshouses

715-729 Wandsworth Road
London SW8 3JF
Tel 020 7622 4469

Correspondence Address

Hibbert Almshouse Charity
c/o St Paul's Church
6a Rectory Grove
London SW4 0DZ
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