How the Houses got their names

HOW THE HOUSES GOT THEIR NAMES

In 1635, Edward Mountsteven founded 6 almshouses in Paston. These almshouses were later amalgamated with Peterborough Almshouse Trust. The Vicar of Paston was appointed as a trustee back in 1635 and still to this day the Vicar of Paston (whoever it is at the time) is still a trustee. This is known as an "ex-officio" trustee.

In 1744 Edward Wortley, MP for Peterborough, financed a workhouse which later became Wortley Almshouse. His wife, Lady Mary Wortley Montague, brought back to England a system of inoculation against Smallpox which she had discovered in Turkey.

In 1841, Samuel Brocksopp (1769-1841) left his estate between Town Estate Charity and St John's Church. St John's Church funded its own almshouses which were later amalgamated into Peterborough Almshouse Trust. 

In 1903, Frances Pears left £5000  (the equivalent of £526,000 in today's money) to provide courtyard housing between Westgate and Cumbergate almshouses.

In 1907, Mary Ireland became a trustee. She ran a school for boys.

In 1928, George Smith left money in his will for the Almshouse Trust Fund.

In 1942 Richard Robinson Bluck left two houses in Gladstone Street, (nos 4 and 4a) Peterborough, to Peterbrough Diocesan Board of Finance for the benefit of St Mark's Parish. He bequeathed that the two houses should be converted into 4 flats to be called "St Mark's Rest Homes for the aged and poor".

All these people financed housing for older people in Peterborough through various charities. The different charities were later amalgamated into Peterborough Almshouse Trust in the form it is today.

Canon A J Howitt became a Trustee in the 1970s and was Chairman of the Trust through to the 1990s. He was the ex-officio trustee connected to St John's Church, Peterborough.