Winsley's Almshouses and farmhouse. The middle block of the almshouses and the west wing of the farmhouse, south of it, belong to a fairly late 16th century house of brick and courtyard of half H-shaped plan. The east block of the farmhouse was added probably early in the 17th century. The almshouses were founded c.1726 and incorporated the main block of the house which was much altered and flanking wings were added on the east and west sides forming an open courtyard; these wings have been subsequently extended. The farmhouse was separated from the almshouses by breaking down a section of building immediately south of the latter. The main block of the almshouse has been much altered and has a projecting porch in the middle with original octagonal turrets at the angles, but entirely covered with cement and with applied features of 1726; outer archway has double-chamfered jambs and three centred arch in a square head; the inner archway has a four-centred arch and set in it is an original stop-moulded oak frame and a door of moulded battens. The west wall of the farmhouse has an original doorway with double-chamfered jambs and four-centred arch in a square head. The 17th century addition has a window of three lights, with plastered mullions. Inside the building two tenements on the east side of the entrance have each a 17th century fireplace with a carved oak lintel, one has masoned decoration, carved stops and the date and initials H B 1649 (Henry Barrington, Mayor, 1648); the other has egg and dart ornament and other decoration of Jacobean character. There are also two doorways in these tenements with original stop-moulded frames and square heads. In the entry behind the porch is a similar floor-frame and a 17th century door elaborately panelled and with a small cut opening at the bottom. On the first floor the middle of the main block and the space over the porch is fitted up as a chapel but has no features earlier than 1726. The original part of the farm house has a moulded ceiling beam.<1>

DOE Survey of Winsley's Almshouses. Winsley Square, Old Heath Road. Grade II. Winsley's Almshouses, founded 1728. Incorporated a late C16 brick house of half H shape. Wings were added on east and west extending north to form an open courtyard. These wings have been extended to more than twice their original length towards the north in C19 and present century, so that the courtyard has now become a cul-de-sac. The main block has a projecting central porch with passage through on the ground floor; it has original octagonal angle turrets now covered with cement, and with early C18 features. The space in the upper storey of the porch was fitted up as a chapel. No's 1 to 5 and 18 to 22 are in early C19 red brick. No's 6 to 17 in C18 red and black chequer brickwork. The roofs are tiled. Windows double hung sashes with glazing bars.<2>

Three moulded bricks for window Mullions from Winsley's Almshouse accessioned in 1916. COLEM 1916.3467 <3>