Centenary Celebrations
An Open Garden event and evening party took place on Midsummer Day, June 24th, to celebrate the Centenary of Woollam’s Almshouses in Redbourn Hertfordshire.
There was a history exhibition, and tea and cakes were served to visitors who came to enjoy the gardens in the afternoon, and donated generously towards outdoor projects.
Residents, Trustees, and guests celebrated together at a barbeque in the evening, with musical entertainment from members of St. Mary’s Church choir and a surprise visit from a dinosaur, hiding a fun-loving resident!
The almshouses were endowed in 1923 by Mary Woollam, in memory of her late husband, Charles Woollam, who owned Silk Mills in St. Albans and Redbourn. The Redbourn Silk Mill was built in 1857 and mainly employed women, some of whom later benefitted from almshouse accommodation.
Six new bungalows and a warden’s flat were added to the original 4 almshouses in the 1960s and the properties, bordering Redbourn Common, are surrounded by the beautiful garden.
The residents are supported by warden Sheila Seabrook, who works very hard to maintain the safe and contented community at Woollam’s. Long may it continue!
An Open Garden event and evening party took place on Midsummer Day, June 24th, to celebrate the Centenary of Woollam’s Almshouses in Redbourn Hertfordshire.
There was a history exhibition, and tea and cakes were served to visitors who came to enjoy the gardens in the afternoon, and donated generously towards outdoor projects.
Residents, Trustees, and guests celebrated together at a barbeque in the evening, with musical entertainment from members of St. Mary’s Church choir and a surprise visit from a dinosaur, hiding a fun-loving resident!
The almshouses were endowed in 1923 by Mary Woollam, in memory of her late husband, Charles Woollam, who owned Silk Mills in St. Albans and Redbourn. The Redbourn Silk Mill was built in 1857 and mainly employed women, some of whom later benefitted from almshouse accommodation.
Six new bungalows and a warden’s flat were added to the original 4 almshouses in the 1960s and the properties, bordering Redbourn Common, are surrounded by the beautiful garden.
The residents are supported by warden Sheila Seabrook, who works very hard to maintain the safe and contented community at Woollam’s. Long may it continue!
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PREVIOUS EVENTS
The residents held a coffee morning in aid of Macmillan Cancer on 27th October and raised £175 for this worthy cause.
As well as tea, coffee and delicious cakes, there were 2 tombola stalls. This passing group of Nordic walkers enjoyed a lovely treat after their weekly excursion.
The residents held a coffee morning in aid of Macmillan Cancer on 27th October and raised £175 for this worthy cause.
As well as tea, coffee and delicious cakes, there were 2 tombola stalls. This passing group of Nordic walkers enjoyed a lovely treat after their weekly excursion.
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The gardens at Woollams were one of the star attractions in Redbourn Open Gardens weekend in June 2022 and the residents and warden served refreshments, sold plants and bric-a-brac and ran a Tombola to raise funds for new chairs for the summerhouse.
There was also a pop-up exhibition on the history of the Almshouses, on loan from Redbourn Village Museum.
Around £500 was raised, which together with a grant from Redbourn Parish Council, will allow the mix and match furniture to be replaced with seating that is more suitable. Well Done, Sheila and all of the residents who helped to make the weekend such a success.
The residents celebrated HM The Queen's Platinum Jubilee with a barbecue hosted by the Trustees of The Redbourn Charities.
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Barbecue to celebrate the Almshouse Association 75th Anniversary in 2021 |
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Opening ceremony for the summerhouse
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Celebrations for HM The Queen's 90th Birthday in 2016
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