Hereford Cathedral Almshouses

The Hereford Cathedral Almshouses Charity provides and manages a total of six almshouses in Hereford, and fifteen in Ledbury. In central Hereford, St Ethelbert’s Hospital was founded in circa 1225 by Elias of Bristol, a canon of Hereford Cathedral, as ‘a house for the poor’, and moved to its current location in Castle Street in the sixteenth century. St Katherine’s Hospital in Ledbury was founded by Bishop Hugh Foliot in about 1231 for ‘the support of wayfarers and pilgrims and the poor’. The two charities, managed for centuries by the Dean and Chapter of the Cathedral, were merged in 2011 into one charity, which became a separate Charitable Incorporated Organisation in 2023. 

The charity maintains its long and close association with Hereford Cathedral, an active Christian church, run and governed by Christians motivated by the gospel to provide for those in need. Beneficiaries are not necessarily required to be people of faith, but the ethos and operation of the Charity are rooted in the gospel of Jesus Christ and Christianity; pastoral presence and availability to residents is a valuable part of our offering that distinguishes the Hereford Cathedral Almshouses Charity from secular housing providers.

Who may apply to live in a Hereford Cathedral almshouse?

The charity’s objective is ‘the relief of poverty by the provision of almshouse accommodation’, and prospective beneficiaries are required to have low income, be capable of independent living, and have a background of involvement in church, community or voluntary work. 

Almshouses are unfurnished, low-cost dwellings which are often designed with the needs of older people in mind. An emergency call system is provided in each almshouse, but the almshouses are neither ‘sheltered accommodation’ nor a care home, nor emergency accommodation, and residents are beneficiaries of the Charity and not tenants. Residents must pay for their own electricity and/or gas, cleaning, telephone and broadband, and pay to the Charity a modest Monthly Maintenance Payment to cover the costs of maintaining and servicing their dwelling. Communal gardens are available to residents and, in Ledbury, a guest flat may be booked in which residents’ families may stay while visiting.

Residents may expect to continue in occupation as long as they need the accommodation, providing they continue to qualify as a beneficiary, are able to look after themselves, and other reasons for ending their appointment as a beneficiary do not arise. One small pet and accredited assistance dogs may (but will not necessarily) be accommodated with the trustees’ permission.

Residents must be mobile and able to look after themselves, and will not be able to continue living at the almshouses if that is no longer possible. Full terms and conditions are contained in a ‘letter of appointment’ sent to prospective residents.

Application process

The Hereford Cathedral almshouses are currently fully occupied by long-term residents. As and when vacancies arise, they will be advertised on this website and locally. Applicants should complete in full the application form which may be downloaded below, or contact the Hereford Cathedral Office on 01432 374200 to have a form posted to them.

Almshouses Application Form (word)

Almshouses Application Form (pdf)

Applications may be made at any time, and qualifying applicants will be held on a list, but each application will be considered on its own merits when a vacancy arises, and there is no priority for earlier applicants. If a vacancy arises, prospective beneficiaries will be assessed based on the information on their application form, a home visit and a formal interview. References will be taken, and the selection process may take several weeks to complete.

Requests for further information may be addressed to the Clerk to the Trustees of the Hereford Cathedral Almshouses Charity (contact details below).

St Ethelbert's Handbook for Resident

St Katherine's Handbook for Residents

Charity information

The Hereford Cathedral Almshouses Charity is a charity registered in England and Wales with the registered number 1201828. The trustees of the Charity, chaired by The Very Reverend Sarah Brown, Dean of Hereford, are three members of the Chapter of Hereford Cathedral, and a majority of other appointed trustees.

Contact:
The Clerk to the Trustees
Hereford Cathedral Almshouses Charity
5 College Cloisters
Cathedral Close
Hereford
HR1 2NG 
Tel: 01432 374200 
Email: [email protected]