Hospital of St Cross, Winchester - alms houses
The Hospital of St Cross and Almshouse of Noble Poverty is a medieval almshouse in Winchester, England, founded between 1133 and 1136. It is the oldest charitable institution in the UK.
The alms houses seen here stand adjacent to the Norman church of St Cross.
The founder was Henry de Blois, Bishop of Winchester, grandson of William the Conqueror, half brother to King Stephen of England.
The Hospital still provides accomodation for a total of 25 elderly men. These men belong to either of two charitable foundations. Those belonging to the Foundation of the Hospital of St Cross (founded in about 1132) wear black robes with a silver cross and trencher hats: these are called the "Black Brothers". Those belonging to the Order of Noble Poverty (founded in 1445) wear claret red robes and trencher hats: these are called the "Red Brothers".
Hospital of St Cross, Winchester - alms houses
The Hospital of St Cross and Almshouse of Noble Poverty is a medieval almshouse in Winchester, England, founded between 1133 and 1136. It is the oldest charitable institution in the UK.
The alms houses seen here stand adjacent to the Norman church of St Cross.
The founder was Henry de Blois, Bishop of Winchester, grandson of William the Conqueror, half brother to King Stephen of England.
The Hospital still provides accomodation for a total of 25 elderly men. These men belong to either of two charitable foundations. Those belonging to the Foundation of the Hospital of St Cross (founded in about 1132) wear black robes with a silver cross and trencher hats: these are called the "Black Brothers". Those belonging to the Order of Noble Poverty (founded in 1445) wear claret red robes and trencher hats: these are called the "Red Brothers".