The story of the Leeds almshouses that provided shelter and sanctuary for the poor

Leeds boasted a number of almshouses - a charitable form of self-sufficient, low cost community housing that was held in trust for local people in housing need - which continued to help the most vulnerable in society for hundreds of years.

Some of the earliest to be built were Harrison’s Almshouses in 1653 which provided shelter and safety for 40 poor women. They were the gift of merchant John Harrison who left £1,000 for as an endowment.

The Wade Lane almshouses were on one site and the there was another on Raglan Road in Woodhouse Moor - the Harrison Potter Almshouses.

There were 12 houses added from 1790 until 1817 and were the gift of Arthur Ikin with eight more added on Harrison Street from 1826 until 1845.

The Harrison Almshouses on Wade Lane were demolished in 1960 for redevelopment.

Other almshouses around the city included Ibbeston’s Almshouses which opened in 1715 on Call Lane in the city centre for poor men and funded by James Ibbeston.

Iveson’s Almshouses, founded near the workhouse circa 1695 as a gift of three houses by Lancelot Ibbetson while Jenkinson’s Almshouses were founded by Josiah Jenkinson at Quebec with eight cottages by his will of August 1643. These were rebuilt on Mill Hill in 1806/07 and removed to new buildings on St Mark’s Road in Woodhouse around 1838 providing nine dwellings.

Jenkinson’s will left a farm at Great Woodhouse in trust and the rents provided the money to build the Mill Hill almshouses.

Potter’s Almshouses on St Columba Street/ Wade Lane were provided by Mary Potter widow of Thomas Potter, a merchant and Leeds alderman.

They were founded in 1736 and opened in 1738 for 10 poor widows. She died in May 1729 and left £2,000 for almshouses which were rebuilt in 1853 and demolished for the development of the Merrion Centre.