Henry, Duke of Cleveland Charity
Staindrop Almshouses

About the Almshouses The Almshouses were built between 1860 - 61 on the former Cathrick’s Garth, part of the Raby Estate. The benefactor was Henry Vane, the 2nd Duke of Cleveland and the houses were to be occupied by poor persons aged over 60. In 1861 a Board of Trustees was established. This comprised the Duke of Cleveland, the Raby Estate agent Mr W. T Scarth of Keverstone Grange, the Vicar Harry Curteis Lipscomb and Mr Henry Lipscomb. An endowment was made to the charity of Stapleton Grange Farm and Remer Farm near Darlington. Income from the farm rents was to cover the maintenance of the Almshouses and provide £5 each quarter to those living here. Any surplus was given to the Vicar to augment his income. The Duke of Cleveland nominated persons considered suitable to occupy the houses. This responsibility then passed to the Vicar, with the remaining trustees stepping in should the Vicar fail to make a nomination. Lady Augusta Mary Poulett, the Duke’s sister-in-law provided an arm chair for each property. She also provided the village drinking water fountain that stands on South Green. By 1904 Lord Barnard, the 9th Baron Barnard, was the only properly constituted trustee. He therefore applied to the Charity Commissioners to establish a new scheme for its administration. Since 1905 there have been three ex-officio Trustees and two local persons co-opted to the Board. The owner of Raby Castle, Raby Estate Agent and the Vicar hold the ex-officio seats. The endowed farms were sold in 1920 with the proceeds invested to continue to provide an income to the charity. In 1952 a piped water supply was provided to each house though some were not convinced it was better than the nearby external pump! By 2021 gas central heating and double glazing had been Installed. The programme of improvement and updating continues, whilst the historic character of the houses is respected whenever works are undertaken. In keeping with the times, the trustees have replaced the outdated word ‘poor’ as a condition of residency with ‘deserving’. The trustees meet regularly to ensure that the Almshouses continue to meet the needs of Staindrop and play an important role within the village. Read more about almshouses. Read about the history of England's almshouses. © 2025 Henry, Duke of Cleveland Charity | This page was last updated on 13th November 2025.

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Apply for an Almshouse There are currently no vacancies. All properties are currently occupied. Please see the Appointment of a beneficiary policy for more information on the appointment process. The twelve Almshouses are in a terrace located in Staindrop on a cul-de-sac behind Office Square in Staindrop . The properties are two storey with one bedroom, bathroom, living room, kitchen, ground floor WC, rear yard, front garden and parking at the rear. Almshouse residents are single persons and couples. Residents make a weekly contribution to maintenance costs. A condition of occupancy is that residents can live independently, the charity cannot provide care services which should be arranged by residents themselves or their family. If a care package is put in place the charity would then make an assessment regarding the suitability of a resident living in an almshouse. Any adaptations for example a stair lift would require written permission and may be required to be removed if a resident leaves. Car parking is not provided with any property but may be available 'on street'. If you wish to apply and have your application held until a vacancy arises please download an application form using the link below and return it to the address on the form. If you submit an application please let the Clerk to the Trustees know if you no longer wish to be considered for an almshouse. The charity operates a policy and procedure to select new residents. Applicants must meet the following criteria to be considered for an almshouse: 1) Be aged 60 years of age or over 2) Have a proven connection to Staindrop for example through residency, close family or employment 3) Be of good character 4) Not be in full-time employment APPLICATION FORM (click on link to download PDF form) Please email staindropalmshouses@gmail.com for further information. © 2025 Henry, Duke of Cleveland Charity | This page was last updated on 12th November 2025.

Policies The charity maintains a comprehensive set of policies and procedures to ensure the efficient management and good governence of the charity. Policies are kept under review and new policies developed as required. Please click on the links below to view policies. Appointment of a beneficiary Complaints handling Data protection and privacy Data Protection Registration Certificate Health and safety Independent living Safeguarding Serious incident Trustee conflict of interests Trustee expenses Weekly maintenance contributions © 2025 Henry, Duke of Cleveland Charity | This page was last updated on 12th November 2025.

News Vacancy for the Clerk to the Trustees - click here for details. Staindrop Almshouse Charity signposts its heritage Read about us in the news: https://teesdalemercury.co.uk/news/guides-get-to-work-sprucing-up-shabby-benches-and-picnic-table/ © 2025 Henry, Duke of Cleveland Charity | This page was last updated on 12th November 2025.

Contact us To contact us please complete the contact form or email staindropalmshouses@gmail.com First Name Last Name Email Message Send Thanks for submitting!