Tag Archives: almshouses

What a relief after watching Barbie

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AFTER WATCHING THE film “Barbie”, which I did not enjoy and even bored me at times, we walked west from the Genesis Cinema along Mile End Road towards Whitechapel Underground station. On our way, we passed Trinity Green, which is surrounded by the picturesque Trinity Green Almshouses (‘TGA’).

Probably the second oldest surviving almshouses in London, the TGA was built in 1695 by the Corporation of Trinity House. The oldest is The Charterhouse. The purpose of the TGA was to provide housing for poor captains and ship’s masters, and/or their widows. In about 1895, the TGA was threatened with demolition, but saved by a public campaign to preserve them. The buildings were the first to be placed on a preservation register, the forerunner of the ‘listed buildings’ system that protects historic structures from alteration or demolition.

Buildings that flank the two sides of the entrance gate are adorned with sculptures of sailing vessels, complete with masts and rigging. On each of the gatehouses, there are plaques recording the fact that the TGA was built in 1695 on land donated by Henry Mudd of Rattcliff and his widowed sister-in-law. At the end of the rectangular lawn that is surrounded by the dwelling units, there is a chapel, Sadly, the compound was locked up and could only be viewed from the street. It appears that people are still living there.

Seeing the beautiful, nay elegant, TGA was a great relief after having subjected ourselves (voluntarily) to a film, chock full of unsubtle sophomoric (‘sixth or even fifth form’) messages, which many of our intelligent friends have enjoyed greatly. Maybe, we missed something that endeared the film to them. The one good thing I have to say about the film is that I am certain that its box office takings will help keep cinemas we like, including Genesis, in business after the disastrous years of the pandemic.

For the deserving poor of Padstow

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THE CONVOLUTED COAST of Cornwall is dotted with picturesque little ports. One of these is Padstow, which has become well-known because it contains restaurants and other food-related establishments connected with the TV celebrity chef Rick Stein. It is also famous for its centuries’ old annual Oss celebrations held on May Day.

While walking around the streets of the tiny town of Padstow, I came across a disused cinema, which bears a commemorative plaque. Opened in 1924 as the Cinedrome, this became the Capitol cinema. It closed in 1996. However, another relic of the past is still in use around the corner in Middle Street. I am referring to the Padstow Almshouses. This is a small two-winged complex of brick-built houses with some Victorian gothic features.

The main entrance to the complex is surmounted by a granite block carved with the following: “1875 Almshouses”. A plaque located on one of the two facades of the complex informs the viewer that these almshouses were financed by subscriptions raised by friends of John Tredwin to remember him. John Tredwin, who was born in 1818 in Padstow, died at St Columb in Cornwall in 1870. Tredwin, who was a timber merchant and shipbuilder, was involved in the construction of various public works in Padstow. He was also enrolled in the 1st Cornwall Artillery Volunteer Corps, and by 1861 he had become a Captain.  The 1851 Census revealed that by then he and his family were living in St Columb.

John Tredwin was mentioned in a book, “The Cornish Overseas. A history of Cornwall’s ‘Great Emigration’” by Philip Payton:

“The ‘John & Mary’, owned by the Padstow shipbuilder John Tredwin, was engaged in the classic export of immigrants and import of timber that made the Atlantic trade so lucrative in North Cornwall …”

Since the days of the likes of John Tredwin, Padstow has become a relatively insignificant port. Instead, it has become a popular destination for tourists. Although it is undoubtedly an attractive little place, it is outrivalled in charm by other Cornish ports such as Polperro, St Ives, Mousehole, Port St Isaacs, Fowey, and Falmouth. Padstow deserves a visit, but not a long one.