History, 1795-1976

The Percy Wagner Almshouses
Photo by Jack Latimer

These are the oldest buildings in Hanover. They were built in three stages.

The first six almshouses were built in 1795 by Mrs Margaret Marriot, to commemorate her friends Dorothea and Philadelphia Percy. They were to be occupied by six poor widows who were members of the Church of England.

Over sixty years later, in 1859, another six houses were added by the Reverend Henry Wagner. These were for six ‘poor maidens’.

By 1971, the almhouses were in bad condition, and only one was occupied. The Trustees of the houses wanted to demolish them, but they became listed buildings in the same year. With the help of Brighton Council, the houses were restored five years later. New kitchen and bathroom extensions were built at the back of the houses, and the interors were redesigned.

Comments about this page

  • Older tenants of the Almshouses remember seeing the widow ladies (dressed all in black with bonnets) walking on a Sunday to a church some way from the houses. It had a surrounding wall at one time with a small wooden gate in Islingword Road, I believe. There was a large wooden roller wringer in the back garden, and no washing was allowed to be put out on a Sunday.

    By Marie Lewis (17/07/2003)
  • I first heard about the Percy Wagner almshouse in a lecture. I found your comments interesting and would like to find out more about them, as I am doing a dissertation on the role of women in architecture. Any offers of more info?

    By Jiya Beard (23/12/2004)
  • An informative site. I found the almshouses very interesting and so nice to have a picture. I am doing research into the history of almshouses so want as much info as I can get. Thank you very much.

    By Diana Hill (27/05/2005)
  • My great gran Annie (nee Dine) born in 1855 lived at number 9 till her death in 1953.

    By Neil Woolley (14/03/2014)

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