Latham’s Hospital is a picturesque almshouse on North Street, housing eleven single women over the age of fifty, one of whom has lived there for the past 25 years. The Hospital provides accommodation for single women who have lived in the parish of Oundle for at least five years.

Founded and endowed in 1611 by Nicholas Latham, the hospital is an important part of local history. Nicholas Latham bought land from as far away as Lincolnshire and Bedfordshire, and used the income from these properties to fund his projects, which included two hospitals in Barnwell and Oundle for poor or elderly widowers and widows. The original stipulations for applicants included the terms: “none lunatic or mad, or hath any infectious disease or loathsomeness, no common swearer or profane atheist, or in her husband’s time hath been suspected of adultery.” Parson Latham married at the age of 45 and had one son, who died in infancy. He himself passed away at the age of 72 in 1620.

Parson Latham’s Hospital in Oundle operates today and it is still funded by the rent from land in Kirton that Latham bought. The Oundle hospital has always catered solely for women, as the almshouse in Barnwell was for men, however that building is no longer owned by the trust. Ten percent of the profit from Latham’s investments goes towards the education foundation that Parsons Latham set up, providing money for prospective university students. Graham Sands, clerk to the trustees at the hospital, confirmed t hat although the recession has affected their investments, the hospital is in no financial danger.

In 2006 a new community room was built and opened by Prince Charles, Patron of The Almshouse Association. Mr. Sands remarked, “He didn’t want to leave.” The new community centre houses film afternoons, Sunday teas and fish and chip nights. The application process is very simple, involving a short form and an interview with the trustees to ensure the applicant will fit in. Residents must be able to look after themselves. The oldest resident is 92 years old and is apparently “the fittest of them all”.

The buildings themselves are beautiful, housing a rabbit warren of twisting corridors. Outside, the long garden backs onto residents’ bungalows. I looked in one of the vacant flats, which contained a bedroom and living room as well as a kitchen and bathroom, all modern and comfortable.

Two courtyards face onto North Street, one of which contains the disused staircase to the old Bluecoat School that was housed there from 1620 until the late nineteenth century. The old staircase is now dark and cobwebbed, with the hooks for the children’s coats still visible on the walls. While dipping into a brochure about the history of Latham’s charities,I discovered some extracts from Bluecoat school reports. One boy was described as “infantile lazy defiant” while another report lamented “too little self denial on the part of his parents. The pity.” Upstairs, there is the Trustees room, where the Christmas party and holy communion are held. The dark wood paneled room is practically unchanged since it was built in the seventeenth century.

Despite the many advantages that the hospital has to offer, value for money being just one, Mr. Sands told the Chronicle that they actually have room for more women. Asked why these vacancies existed, he suggested that perhaps “people don’t know enough about it”.

There are over 30,000 almshouse dwellings in the UK, housing 36,000 people. The first recorded almshouse was founded in the tenth century. It is testament to the dedication of those in charge of administering these places that so many still exist today. The previous clerk at the Parson Latham Hospital worked there for an impressive fifty years. Mr. Sands was full of praise for the organization, which carefully administers the property through a body of eight trustees. Will almshouses be around much longer? Mr. Sands believes, “There will always be a future for almshouses.”