Bromley & Sheppard’s Colleges, Grade I listed retirement home in London Borough of Bromley, England
Bromley & Sheppard's Colleges is a red brick complex arranged around two courtyards framed by stone Doric columns and an iron gate. The site contains forty independent dwellings within Bromley College and seven additional residences in the Tudor Gothic-style Sheppard's College wing.
Bishop John Warner of Rochester founded the institution in 1666 through his will to provide homes for twenty widows of clergy members. The site was later designed and expanded by Richard Ryder from 1670 to 1672, an architect who worked with Christopher Wren after the Great Fire of London.
The colleges continue to house retired clergy of the Church of England and their families through a charitable mission that has endured for centuries. The daily life here reflects this long-standing purpose, with residents who share a connection to the church's history and values.
Access is through the iron gate that leads to the inner courtyards, with the complex divided into two main residential sections. The layout is straightforward to navigate, as the buildings are arranged around symmetrical open spaces.
Richard Ryder, an architect who collaborated with Christopher Wren during London's post-fire reconstruction, designed this site from 1670 to 1672. This connection to Wren's circle makes the complex a rare example of early post-fire London architecture created by someone in his immediate network.
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