almshouse_st_cross

The Hospital of St Cross and Almshouse of Noble Poverty is a medieval almshouse in Winchester, Hampshire, England, founded between 1133 and 1136. It is the oldest charitable institution in the United Kingdom. The founder was Henry de Blois, Bishop of Winchester, grandson of William the Conqueror and younger brother to King Stephen of England.

Not only is it the oldest but it is also the largest medieval almshouse in Britain: it is built on the scale of an Oxford or Cambridge college, although is older than any of the colleges at those universities. It has been described as "England's oldest and most perfect almshouse". Most of the buildings and grounds are open to the public at certain times.
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