John Fotherley arranged for almshouses for five poor widows to be built on the High Street in 1682. The right to nominate residents was vested in whoever was the Lord of the Manor. Fotherley also settled an annuity of £10 a year on them. Shortly before his death, he conveyed the almshouses to trustees and charged his estate in the parish with an annual payment of £10, for keeping the houses in repair.

The residents also later received some income from what was known as Howard’s Gift, from Elizabeth Harman’s will of 1899. The almshouses continued in use until they were demolished in 1932.

Fotherley Road was built in the twentieth century, some way from the almhouses, but kept the commemoration of his name.


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