As we traverse the village streets we often meet with these grey piles of sixteenth-century almshouses, often low, one-storeyed buildings, picturesque and impressive, each house having a welcoming porch with a seat on each side and a small garden full of old-fashioned flowers.  The roof is tiled, on which moss and lichen grow, and the chimney-stacks are tall and graceful.  An inscription records the date and name of the generous founder with his arms and motto.  Such a home of peace you will find at Quainton, in Buckinghamshire, founded, as an inscription records, “Anno Dom. 1687.  These almshouses were then erected and endow’d by Richard Winwood, son and heir of Right Hon’ble Sir Ralph Winwood, Bart., Principal Secretary of State to King James y’e First.”  Within these walls dwell (according to the rules drawn up by Sir Ralph Verney in 1695) “three poor men—­widowers,—­to be called Brothers, and three poor women—­widows,—­to be called Sisters.”  Very strict were these rules for the government of the almshouses, as to erroneous opinions in any principle of religion, the rector of Quainton being the judge, the visiting of alehouses, the good conduct of the inmates, who were to be “no whisperers, quarrelers, evil speakers or contentious.”

These houses at Quainton are very humble abodes; other almshouses are large and beautiful buildings erected by some rich merchant, or great noble, or London City company, for a large scheme of charity.  Such are the beautiful almshouses in the Kingsland Road, Shoreditch, founded in the early part of the eighteenth century under the terms of the will of Sir Robert Geffery.  They stand in a garden about an acre in extent, a beautiful oasis in the surrounding desert of warehouses, reminding the passer-by of the piety and loyal patriotism of the great citizens of London, and affording a peaceful home for many aged folk.  This noble building, of great architectural dignity, with the figure of the founder over the porch and its garden with fine trees, has only just escaped the hands of the destroyer and been numbered among the bygone treasures of vanished England.  It was seriously proposed to pull down this peaceful home of poor people and sell the valuable site to the Peabody Donation Fund for the erection of working-class dwellings.  The almshouses are governed by the Ironmongers’ Company, and this proposal was made; but, happily, the friends of ancient buildings made their protest to the Charity Commissioners, who have refused their sanction to the sale, and the Geffery Almshouses will continue to exist, continue their useful mission, and remain the chief architectural ornament in a district that sorely needs “sweetness and light.”