Richard Watts Charities

Provision was also made for housekeeper to "be resyant [resident] there ... clean make the Bedds wash the linen ... and look well to the furniture."

A further agreement between the mayor, bishop, bridge wardens and aldermen in 1615 provided for "..poore children ... who would otherwise lyve in Idleness and be fitt for noe use..."[a] To the Honoour of God.

The original will had used the terms 'Parish of St. Nicholas' and 'City of Rochester' fairly interchangeably, however the indenture consistently refers to the city.

The charity refused the application so the following year St. Margaret's and Strood jointly applied to the Court of Chancery for a ruling which was decided in their favour.

[7] The charity was also to pay £1,000 (later raised to £1,500) per annum to the hospital and gained the right to nominate as patients up to 20 people at any one time.

Some money was available to help travellers in need of financial assistance and some for "amenities or samaritan funds" at hospitals within the city.

Watts left money in his will for the benefit of six poor travellers, each of whom, according to a plaque on the outside of the building, would be given lodging and "entertainment" for one night before being sent on his way with fourpence.

[10] Watts' benevolence and the Dickens story are remembered during Rochester's fancy dress Dickensian Christmas Festival, when a turkey is cooked and ceremonially distributed to "the poor" at the house.

The house features restored small Elizabethan period bedrooms, along with a herb garden in the rear, and is open to the public from March through October.

by his Will, dated 22 Aug. 1579, founded this Charity for Six poor Travellers, who not being ROGUES, or PROCTORS, May receive gratis for one Night, Lodging, Entertainment, and Fourpence each.

Inscription on charity entrance The small almshouse now known as the Six Poor Travellers existed before Watts left it money in his will.

His will refers to "the almshouse already erected and standing", desiring it to be "reedified" [rebuilt] as well as extended with rooms for the travellers.

A statute of Edward VI provided for lepers and bedridden people to appoint proctors to beg on their behalf.

W Gibson Ward describes them as "... mendicants who swarmed ... under the pretence of collecting Alms for the support of Leper houses...".

[16] In 1923 bathrooms were added to the house, however in 1935 the council (who had taken over the public baths) were still allocating facilities for the Inspector of Poor Travellers to make his selection there.

The Emergency Powers (Defence) Act 1939 prohibited casual wayfarers in Protected Areas such as Rochester.

[g] Following notice from the Chief Constable the house finally closed its doors to travellers on 20 July 1940 after 354 years of continuous service.

[16] The building was converted in 1948 to provide two flats for two elderly couples, the ground floor being retained as a museum.

Below the handrail the gallery is filled in with lath and plaster, the whole supported on four large chamfered uprights to provide a dry walkway below.

Watts's benevolence and the Dickens story are remembered during Rochester's fancy dress Dickensian Christmas Festival, when a turkey is cooked and ceremoniously distributed to 'the poor' (that is, anyone passing by at the time) at the house.

Henry Lucy described a visit to the house in "Christmas Eve at Watts's" in Faces and Places and throws an interesting light on Dickens' story through the words of the house-keeper.

[20] There is also a very detailed account of "Richard Watts's Charity, Rochester" in Chapter VI of A Week's Tramp in Dickens-Land, by William R.

[23] This central block houses the main entrance, with attached common room and kitchen, and above the Trustees' boardroom.

[24] All the inhabitants were evacuated during World War II to Eylesden, a Georgian house in Sutton Valence.

[25] At the almshouses the ARP (Air Raid Precautions) shelters were made available to the public and two gun emplacements installed.

She also had to visit all inmates of the almshouses once a week, ensure adequate fire precautions and prepare the boardroom for meetings.

Thomas Aveling complained in January 1871 about "the reported inefficiency of the Nurses ... more than twelve months since", which is interesting because as mayor 1869–70 he had a level of supervision of the charity.

The county council had the task of organising a free home nursing service for all persons who needed it.

[38] £100 was made available annually for ten boys age twelve and over to attend the Sir Joseph Williamson's Mathematical School.

[43] The existence of a leper hospital in the area may have been the reason for banning proctors from the Six Poor Travellers house.