Black plaque № 59617

Long Alley Almshouses. The Mediaeval Fraternity of the Holy Cross was incorporated in 1441 by a Royal Charter, and built the Long Alley Almshouses in 1446/47. The Fraternity came to an end a century later as part of the Reformation but another Royal Charter of 1553, obtained largely through the influence of a famous Abingdonian, Sir John Mason, created the body known as Christ's Hospital which has been responsible since then for the administration of the Almshouses. Between 1605 and 1618 the outside porches and the lantern were added and the hall was panelled and furnished. The other Almshouses, Brick Alley to the south and Twitty's to the north, were built by Christ's Hospital early in the eighteenth century.

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