Work under way on £1m facelift for village’s historic almshouses

Lady Lumleys Almshouse Trust in partnership with housing association Broadacres, and its developing partner Southdale, is carrying out the work on the historic Lady Lumleys Almshouses in Thornton-le-Dale.

It follows a lengthy consultation process with residents living in the 12 almshouses, which were built as a gift to the village in 1658 from Viscountness Elizabeth Lumley who owned much of the land around the area

Because of their age, the one-bedroom terraced homes, which are located in the centre of the village, are in need of a full modernisation programme, which will include the installation of new bathrooms, kitchens, heating, rewiring and insulation.

Due to their Grade 2 Listed status, the improvement work to the almshouses includes internal work and a large extension to the rear. One of the main changes involves moving people’s living rooms from the front to the back of the building so they look out on to the residents’ own gardens.

Fiona Coleman, development manager for Broadacres, said: “Refurbishing a Grade 2 Listed building is complex and requires a lot of planning, but in close consultation with the residents and the Trust, we believe we have designed a scheme that is in keeping with the historic nature of the almshouses.”