Please click the Play button to listen to a brief audio clip about the history of St Anne’s Hospital.
A Transcript is also available further down the page.
Historical Images
The middle picture shows a gathering in the Courtyard – we are still finding out what for!
The right picture shows the inside of the Chapel at the Almshouses.
Audio Transcript
Step into our courtyard at St Anne’s Hospital (also known as Lady Anne’s Almshouses) and you will find thirteen cottages, a chapel and, through the archway at the rear, our garden. After some difficult years before being able to claim her inheritance, by 1653 Lady Anne Clifford had the cottages built for women on their own, widowed or single. The establishment was for twelve sisters and a mother, the latter fulfilling the role of live-in warden.
Over the past 370 years the cottages have been improved internally to keep up as far as possible with modern needs. Technically, they are former Almshouses, as since 2010, a maintenance fee has been paid by the occupants.
From 10am to 4pm you are welcome to look around; a resident may be available to tell you more about our history.
About the Speaker: Valerie Kendall
Born and bred in Durham City, Valerie came to Appleby twelve years ago, where she now lives at St Anne’s Hospital. Her career has been in journalism, public relations and marketing, and she has had a lifelong interest in local history.