Monmouth

Bristol Charities has been working closely with the Haberdashers’ Company, a City of London Livery Company, since 2005. The Haberdashers’ Company acts as trustee of the William Jones’s Almshouse Charity, with almshouses in Monmouth, South Wales and Newland, Forest of Dean. Bristol Charities was originally commissioned in July 2005 to carry out a research project, which subsequently resulted in Bristol Charities appointment as ‘development agent’ in July 2006. In January 2007 Bristol Charities assumed direct management responsibility for the William Jones’s Almshouse Charity, as part of the preparations for the proposed redevelopment of the Monmouth almshouse site. In preparation for that redevelopment, Monmouth residents have been temporarily relocated and the almshouse closed in May 2008, in advance of demolition and redevelopment.

The Newland almshouse, consisting of the almshouse building and the Lecturage (warden’s house), was sold in 2010.

The details of a joint venture with a private developer which would allow the re-provision of the Monmouth almshouse were agreed and a planning application was submitted in October 2010. For more details please see below.

The William Jones’s Almshouse Charity, Monmouth

The Haberdashers’ Company is trustee of the William Jones’s Almshouse Charity. As mentioned above, Bristol Charities has directly managed the William Jones’s Almshouse Charity since January 2007. By his will of 1615, William Jones, who originally came from Monmouth, made his fortune as a merchant venturer in Germany and he went on to found almshouses at Monmouth and Newland. He appointed the Haberdashers’ Company as trustee. The current set of Monmouth almshouses dated back to 1961 and consisted of 20 units, mainly bed-sits. It was apparent that the almshouses were not appropriate for the residents and Bristol Charities has been working with the Haberdashers’ company to redevelop the site, to include modern almshouse accommodation. The trusteeship of William Jones’s Almshouse Charity transferred to Bristol Charities in June 2011.

Construction of the new William Jones Almshouse will commence shortly and will consist of 24 one-bedroom, 'homes for life' flats.

The new almshouse will be available in spring 2013