~ SMITHS HOSPITAL ~
SMITHS ALMSHOUSE
Longport, CANTERBURY
Listed Building
John SMITH, Esq., in 1644, bequeathed 200 pounds to build almshouses, and 32 pounds per annum for their endowment. Smith's hospital in the suburb of Langport, without the liberties of the city, for four brothers and four sisters born within the manor of Barton, was founded in 1662, by Mrs. Ann SMITH, who endowed it with lands, and with a reserved rent payable by the proprietor of Barton Court, who has the sole partonage, amounting together to 171l. 7s. 4 1/2d. per annum of which sum she appropriated 32 pounds to the inmates of the hospital; 20 pounds to the apprenticing of poor children of Hornsey, in the county of Middlesex; 20 pounds to the minister of St. Paul's in this city; and the residue to the apprenticing of children of that parish, with which eight children are placed out annually. 1811 Samuel Lewis
Smith's hospital, in the suburb of Langport, without the liberties of the city, for four brothers and four sisters born within the manor of Barton, was founded in 1662, by Mrs. Ann SMITH, who endowed it with lands, and with a reserved rent payable by the proprietor of Barton Court, who has the sole patronage, amounting together to £171. 7. 4 1/2. per annum, of which sum she appropriated £32 to the inmates of
the hospital; £20 to the apprenticing of poor children of Hornsey, in the county of Middlesex; £20 to the minister of St. Paul's, in this city; and the residue to the apprenticing of children of that parish, with which eight children are placed out annually. Topographical Dictionary 1811
At a small distance eastward from Barton House, is Smith's hospital, or alms-houses, so called from their founder John Smith, esq. in 1657, being built on the demesnes of Barton Farm, of which, and the manor of it, he was owner, for the dwellings of four poor men and four poor women, who repair their several dwellings, and have each paid to them eight pounds yearly, out of lands which he devised in his will for that purpose. This hospital is entitled to the sixth part of Mrs. Master's legacy, in common with the other hospitals in Canterbury; of which, a further account may be seen before, among the charities given to this city. Hasted 1801
A view of the gable end of Smith's Almshouses stating 1657, this photo was taken Oct. 1892 and shows parts of the prison across the street
At Longport, Canterbury, suddenly, Mr. Thomas RIGDEN, one of the brothers of Smith's hospital. The Monthly Magazine April 1812
A little farther east, are alms-houses for four poor men and four poor women, called Smith's hospital, from the name of the founder, who laid 1500 pounds in purchasing an estate for this and other charitable uses. William Gostling 1825
Smith's hospital, so called from its founder, John Smith, esq. who endowed it for eight poor men and women, each of whom has a stipend of about 8 pound yearly, stands in the suburbs, or borough of Longport. The New British Traveller, James Dugdale 1819
Smith's Hospital, in the suburb of Long-port, was founded by John Smith Esq. for four poor men, and as many poor women, who derive each about 8 pounds annually from the endowment. Excursions in the county of Kent T. K, Cromwell 1822
1889
1. Edwin BURLEY
2. George MOUNT
3. John BROWNING
4. John WRAIGHT
5. Mrs. Ann PIERCE
6. Mrs. Mary Ann SUTTON
7. Mrs. A. FAGG
8. Miss PARKER
The Gable end of Smith's Almshouses - 1657
A gift from Mary MASTERS..Present state of this charity, 163l. 16s. 3d. Three per cent. Old South Sea Annuities; yearly interest, 4l. 18s. 2d. received and paid in equal sixths to - Saint John's Hospital, East Bridge Hospital, Maynard's and Cotton's Hospital, Jesus Hospital, Ann Smith's Hospital, Cogan's Hospital. *Mary Masters, formerly of the city of Canterbury, single woman by her will gave...lived in Canterbury for many years and died there. 1834
Ann Smith's Gift, Anno 1662
By indenture, dated 8th July, 1662, between Mrs. Ann SMITH, of Highgate, widow of John SMITH, Esq., of the one part; and Sir John RAYNEY, baronet, and others, of the other part; it was witnessed, that the said Ann SMITH, according to a power reserved to her by a certain indenture therein mentioned, gave to the said parties of the second part, their heirs and assigns, a messuage, and divers lands and premises, therein particularly specified, situate respectively in the parishes of St. Paul and Bridge, in the county of Kent, and in Westbear Marsh in the said county, on trust after her death, among other thins, "to pay 20 pounds yearly, out of the rents and profits of the said premises (except the premises in Bridge parish), to the Churchwardesn and Over seers of the poor of "Highgate side" and "Hornsey side", lying within the parish of Hornsey, in the county of Middlesex, for the time being, for putting out four poor children apprentices to some honest trade or occupation, and to give 5 pounds with every one of them, the same to be paid only at the feast of the birth of our Saviour yearly for ever.
The premises from which this annuity is received consist of about 125 acres, with necessary farm buildings, situate in the parish of St. Paul, Canterbury, and Westbear Marsh in the county of Kent, and are vested in trustees for certain charitable purposes in Canterbury.
The amount received in respect of this Charity has, since December 1866, been raised to 40 pounds per annum, the Charity Commissioners having agreed that Hornsey parish was entitled to that sum instead of 20 pounds in consequence of the increased value of the Charity property." 1888