Penrose Almhouses, Grade I listed almshouses in Barnstaple, England
Penrose Almshouses is a Grade I listed building in Barnstaple comprising 20 dwellings arranged around a cobbled courtyard. The site includes a chapel, a boardroom, and communal gardens that serve the residents.
Built between 1624 and 1627 following the will of John Penrose, a wool merchant and former Mayor of Barnstaple, the building was founded as a charitable gift. His bequest established a lasting institution for supporting residents in need.
The chapel still has its original 17th-century fittings with reading desks, pews, and a decorated ceiling showing vine patterns. These details reflect how the space was designed to serve the residents' spiritual life.
The residences provide modern one-bedroom accommodations with updated kitchens and bathrooms for current occupants. Access to the buildings is limited as they remain active housing for residents.
Bullet holes from the English Civil War remain visible in one of the doors, marking the building's role in that conflict. These marks serve as a physical reminder of the turbulent period the structure witnessed.
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