Elizabeth Heath
Elizabeth Heath, Mansfield resident and benefactor, founded and endowed, twelve Almshouses for the poor. Six for Quakers and six for members of established church, in 1691. These were built on Nottingham Road. Trustees built a further six houses, in Bulls Head Lane, (now Portland Street). Her allocation of residents, Quaker and church members, shows that she was well aware of possible trouble from the church authorities, if perhaps she had used the allocations solely for Quaker members, at this time Quakers were badly treated by all the authorities.
The garden area behind the houses was used as a burial ground, Quakers not using churchyards for burials, and Elizabeth herself was buried here. A stone memorial is on her grave, on it was written:-
ELIZABETH HEATH OF MANSFIELD
FOUNDED THESE ALMSHOUSES FOR
TWELVE POOR PEOPLE,
DIED SECOND MONTH (April) 1693 AGED 76.
These houses on Nottingham Road have provided accommodation, under the Trustees, to this day with a beautiful array of flowers every year.
The houses on Portland Street however are empty and barricaded against vandalism, and in a very sorry state. What will be their future?
For Almshouses Part 2 click here.
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I too would echo the words of others regarding these compact little stone properties which sit forlorn on Portland St. I feel pretty sure the sentiments which enabled their founding,would be sorely offended to see them boarded up and derelict from use.
The Portland Street, houses are still boarded up and in a developing area I fear for their future. If Quakers lived here and the garden was used for burials I believe that anyone developing this land will have to cover the cost of reburial of any bodies discovered which I hope will be very expensive! It would be nice to see these buildings as homes again.
These where indeed beautiful little homes until now however, they are occupied by two ladies of some age the remaining 10 properties are empty and have been for many years. They are damp and would require a lot of money spending on them to restore them to their former glory I believe that the trust is about to expire due to a lack of funds in these hard times. The problem is what will happen to these once lovely homes.
Rural Rides by Celia Fiennes 1697 London to York (part of). Mansfield is a little Market town built with stone, there is a little river, they make and dye Tammy”s here. There is one pretty Stone built house just by the watersideof 40 steps ascent into it. At the End of the town is a hospital built by a Quaker for ancient people, its a good neat building, they were to have 8 pounds a year a piece and the rooms and gardens, but its chiefly for their friends. there is nothing remarkable here but the dearness of ye Inns, tho so plentifull a Country.
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