About Us

Who We Are

The Hackney Parish Almshouses Charity is an incorporated Charitable Company Limited by Guarantee.  Prior to incorporation, the charities comprised two separate entities: one known as Dr Spurstowe & Bishop Wood Almshouses and the other known as Norris & Mongers Almshouses.  The Hackney Parish Almshouses Charity provides forty-six homes located on three separate sites within the London Borough of Hackney.


Mongers almshouses are located near the church of St John of Jerusalem. They were originally created from a bequest from Henry Monger in 1669.  The almshouses were rebuilt in the 1840’s, with funds from Sir John Cass's Foundation, and later extended in 1997.  The building currently provides 4 one-bedroomed flats over 2 floors. 


Norris House almshouse was founded in 1857 in memory of South Hackney's first rector, Henry Handley Norris (1771–1850). Norris was a leading member of the Hackney Phalanx, a group of early nineteenth-century Anglican High Churchmen. The almshouses were rebuilt in 1967 and subsequently refurbished in 2002 and now provide 10 one-bedroomed flats and 1 two-bedroomed flat. There is lift access to most flats and a shared garden. 


Dr Spurstowe House is an almshouse comprising thirty-one flats located in Navarino Road, central Hackney and is the modern-day culmination of two historic charities each with their own almshouses. In 1666, the Reverend Dr William Spurstowe, vicar of Hackney, built almshouses in Mare Street and his brother, Henry, endowed the Charity with additional land later gifted, with the almshouses, to the manor of Kings Hold in 1667. The Dr Spurstowe Charity took over administration of the historic Bishop Wood Almshouses, Lower Clacton in 1906.  Originally these almshouses were built in the late 1600’s with funds left in the will of Hackney born Thomas Wood, Bishop of Lichfield.  They were sold in 2015 to help fund the new almshouses in Navarino Road and the new building, Dr Spurstowe House, contains 20 one-bedroomed flats, and 11 flats with 2 bedrooms, with a shared garden.

Objectives & Activities

The Hackney Parish Almshouses Charity is an incorporated Charitable Company Limited by Guarantee.  Prior to incorporation, the charities comprised two separate entities: one known as Dr Spurstowe & Bishop Wood Almshouses and the other known as Norris & Mongers Almshouses.  The Hackney Parish Almshouses Charity provides forty-six homes located on three separate sites within the London Borough of Hackney.


Mongers almshouses are located near the church of St John of Jerusalem. They were originally created from a bequest from Henry Monger in 1669.  The almshouses were rebuilt in the 1840’s, with funds from Sir John Cass's Foundation, and later extended in 1997.  The building currently provides 4 one-bedroomed flats over 2 floors. 


Norris House almshouse was founded in 1857 in memory of South Hackney's first rector, Henry Handley Norris (1771–1850). Norris was a leading member of the Hackney Phalanx, a group of early nineteenth-century Anglican High Churchmen. The almshouses were rebuilt in 1967 and subsequently refurbished in 2002 and now provide 10 one-bedroomed flats and 1 two-bedroomed flat. There is lift access to most flats and a shared garden. 


Dr Spurstowe House is an almshouse comprising thirty-one flats located in Navarino Road, central Hackney and is the modern-day culmination of two historic charities each with their own almshouses. In 1666, the Reverend Dr William Spurstowe, vicar of Hackney, built almshouses in Mare Street and his brother, Henry, endowed the Charity with additional land later gifted, with the almshouses, to the manor of Kings Hold in 1667. The Dr Spurstowe Charity took over administration of the historic Bishop Wood Almshouses, Lower Clacton in 1906.  Originally these almshouses were built in the late 1600’s with funds left in the will of Hackney born Thomas Wood, Bishop of Lichfield.  They were sold in 2015 to help fund the new almshouses in Navarino Road and the new building, Dr Spurstowe House, contains 20 one-bedroomed flats, and 11 flats with 2 bedrooms, with a shared garden.

The Trustees of the Charity

Oversight of the governance of the charity and running of the almshouses is the responsibility of a board of trustees comprised of local people, including the rectors of St John of Hackney and St John of Jerusalem churches, and other members nominated by the 2 churches. There are also 2 trustees who are local councillors nominated by the London Borough of Hackney.

The management of the almshouses is carried out by The Trust Partnership. There is a Warden / Caretaker who visits all of the buildings every week to ensure maintenance matters are attended to. Applications for housing can be made by contacting The Trust Partnership.

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