These attractive buildings are on the corner of St Johns Street and facing the High Street is a 12th Century archway originally part of the Hospital of St. John the Baptist which was incorporated when the structure was rebuilt in 1694. There was a chapel here in Saxon times and by the 13th Century the hospital was established. After the Knights Hospitalers were suppressed by King Henry VIII in 1540 the Corporation bought the site for £26 13s. 4d. The almshouses existed in 1622 and soon after then the Corporation was organising maintenance. The building was derelict from the early 1950s until restored in 1968. Although not exactly used for its original purpose the rents for the dwellings, owned by the Old Corporation, are less than the market value. The plaque over the arch reads:
Memerand that whereas King Athelstan
did give unto the free school within this
Burrough of Malmesbury Ten Pounds and to
the poor people my Almshouse at St John's.
Ten Pounds to be paid yearly by ye Aldermen
and Burgesses of ye same Burrough for Ever.
That now Michael Weekes Esquire, late of
this said burr, and now citizen of London,
hath augmented & added to ye afore sd gift.
viz, to ye sd Free School, Ten Pounds, and to ye
sd Almshouse, Ten Pounds only, to be paid
yearly at St John's, afore sd, within this sd
burr, and by his Trustees for ever, and hath
also given to ye Minister of this Towne
for ye time being 20s only, by ye year for life
to preach a sermon yearly on ye 19th day
of July, and to his sd Trustees 20s by the
year beginning on ye 25th day of March,
Anno Dom 1694.
Source: Charles Vernon
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