Marion Evans, the Residents’ Governor, invites you to view the newly restored stained glass window in the Hall on Saturday 14th September during Abingdon’s Heritage Weekend.

Long Alley almshouses date from the 15th century and are Grade 1 listed. They form part of the beautiful churchyard group around St Helen’s Church.

The window dates back to 1605, though the glass is more recent. The shields depicted are from historic benefactors to the charity. The first window is for King Edward VI who founded & incorporated the Hospital of Christ in Abingdon 1553. The second window is for Sir John Mason, the first Master, appointed in 1553 – a liberal patron of the Hospital.

A hospital was a place of hospitality, not just for treating illness, but covered almshouses and hostels.

According to the article Medieval Hospitals by Margaret Markham, St. Helen’s Hospital (Long Alley Almshouses) was founded in association with the Guild of the Holy Cross in 1442 for the support of 7 poor men and 6 women. The Guild and its hospital was dissolved in 1548, but re-founded as Christ’s Hospital 5 years later.