St Anne's Hospital, Appleby

A low arched doorway off Appleby's Boroughgate leads you almost back in time to a bygone age. This is St Anne's Hospital, not a hospital in our modern sense of the word but a quadrangle of cottages built as almshouses by Lady Anne Clifford for poor widows and spinsters. There are thirteen of them, one being slightly larger and set aside for 'the Mother', the 17th century equivalent of a sheltered housing scheme warden. They date back to 1653 and have seen only minor alterations since that time. Endowed by Lady Anne, who designated the proceeds of one of her farms for their upkeep, they still house elderly single women, who are expected to adhere to the spirit of the rules set over 350 years ago. They have their own garden at the rear with the cottages arranged around a communal courtyard.

The building style is the local vernacular red sandstone with slate roofs, very attractive, with some nice little details.  

In one corner is a small chapel, still with its 17th century fixtures, the walls decorated with Biblical texts. Residents are still encouraged to attend services there. 

It is all absolutely charming, though I can't imagine what it must be like living there, with a constant stream of tourists and photographers disturbing their peace.