Oxford Inscriptions: Parsons’ Almshouse

IN FULFILLMENT [sic] OF THE CHARITABLE INTENTION OF
JOHN PARSONS ESQ
ALDERMAN OF THIS CITY WHO DIED FEB. 12 1814
THIS ALMS HOUSE FOR FOUR POOR MEN AND FOUR
POOR WOMEN WAS ERECTED AND ENDOWED IN THE YEAR 1816
This inscription is high over the centre of the almshouse in Kybald Street (formerly Grove Place).

As this second inscription shows, the almshouses were taken over by University College in 1959 and new Parsons’ Almshouses (designed by Thomas Rayson) were built on the east side of Stone’s Almshouses in St Clement’s.
In 1959 this building became part of
UNIVERSITY COLLEGE through the
generosity of HELEN and FRANK ALTSCHUL
of New York City who built a new
Parsons’ Almshouse in St. Clements
The original Parson's Almshouse in Kybald Street, now part of University College
The four poor men (plus one son) and the four poor women who occupied Parson's Almshouse at the time of the 1901 census (St John-the-Baptist parish) were as follows:
William Bunce, a widower of 81 who was an annuitant
Walter Biggs, a widower of 72 who was a retired pharmaceutical chemist and an annuitant
Thomas Pavier, a widower of 96 who was a retired tailor and an annuitant
Charles P. Pike, a widower of 84 who was a retired tailor and annuitant,
and his unmarried son Arthur (50) who still worked as a tailor
Ann Faulkner, a widow of 70 who was an annuitant
Eliza Hill, a widow of 70 who was an annuitant
Jane Peacey, a widow of 77 who was an annuitant
Mary A. Mills, a widow of 80 who was a pensioner.
Each of the above occupants had two rooms.
