Inventory Site Record

Ramsey Court was formerly the Elis David Almshouses, originally founded in 1447 by Elias Davy, member of the Mercers' Company, for 7 poor men and women. The almshouses were rebuilt in the mid C18th and enlarged in 1875 when the number of residents was increased to 12. They are arranged as two parallel rows of red brick buildings, the north built in 1875, the south in 1887, which face each other across the garden. They ceased to be almshouses in the 1970s when residents moved to new almshouses in Duppas Hill.

Previous / Other name:

Elis David Almshouses

Site location:

122 Church Street, Croydon

Postcode:

CR0 1RP

What 3 Words:

curry.singer.hike

Type of site:

Private Garden

Borough:

Croydon

Open to public?

No

Opening times:

private, visible

Special conditions:

Facilities:

Events:

Public transport:

Rail: East Croydon. Tramlink

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Research updated:

01/05/2006

Last minor changes:

06/08/2023

Please check with the site owner or manager for latest news.

Elias Davy was a wealthy trader in luxury fabrics. Married twice, he had a son who died in infancy, and a daughter who married John Derby, Citizen of London and member of the Drapers' Company. Davy lived in the City of London near the church of St. Michael Bassishaw; he held the Manor of Acton for a period, and traded extensively including in Bruges, Belgium. He died on 4 December 1455 and was buried in Croydon Parish Church of St John the Baptist (q.v), now Croydon Minster. In accordance with his wishes, this date is remembered by the Elis David Almshouses Residents and Directors with a service in the church on his Years Mynde – the medieval anniversary of death; the Mynde Day Service. Mis-transcription of Elias Davy's name over the years led to the almshouses he founded becoming the Elis David Almshouses.

In 1443 Davy had purchased a piece of land called “Delles” near Croydon Parish Church, a marshy area with the river Wandle running through it. He drained the land and built his almshouses here for eight people of either sex, together with four cottages, orchards and gardens. He endowed the almshouses with land and property and gave instructions to increase the holdings over the years. The Ordinances were signed on 27 April 1447 (celebrated as Founders' Day by Elis David Almshouses Residents and Directors); they were founded in perpetuity and intended to be a community of prayer and care. Six of the pensioners were to receive 10d a week and the seventh, the tutor, 1s. The almshouses were endowed with £18 per annum for repairs from the rents of four neighbouring cottages. The Vicar and churchwardens of Croydon Parish Church and 'four of the principal inhabitants of Croydon' were appointed governors. Davy required that the clothes of the residents be 'darke and browne of colour, and not staring, neither blazing, and of easy price cloth, according to their degree', they were to attend daily services in the parish church and pray for the King and the founder.

The almshouse building was enlarged for 12 people in 1875, and a new wing of almost matching appearance was added in 1887. With the growth and development of Croydon, the almshouses required further extension but this was not possible on the original site. As a result the property was given to Croydon Council in return for a site on Duppas Hill Terrace. The original almshouses are now known as Ramsey Court; a plaque was unveiled on the building by the Master of the Mercers’ Company Mr Simon Wathen on 27 April 2014. 

The new Elis David Almshouses at Duppas Hill Terrace were built in 1974 to house 80 residents, and were opened in March 1975 by HRH Princess Alexandra; in 1979 they joined the Almshouse Association. The Vicar of Croydon and the Churchwardens of Croydon Minster, together with a member of the Mercers’ Company, are on the Board of Directors and they are administered by Croydon Almshouse Charities, which also manages Mary Tate's Almshouses (q.v.) in Mitcham.

Sources consulted:

Sue Turnbull, 'The Land called 'Delles', the History of the Elis David and Little Almshouses of Croydon', (published by the author) 2005; Edward Walford 'Village London, The Story of Greater London Part 3: South East and South', first published 1883/4 and reprinted in 1983 by The Alderman Press. History on The Croydon Almshouses website: http://www.croydonalmshouses.org.uk/our-history.html

Grid ref:

TQ319655 (531900,165510)

Size in hectares:

Site ownership:

LB Croydon

Site management:

Date(s):

Designer(s):

Listed structures:

LBII: Almshouses

On National Heritage List for England (NHLE), Parks & Gardens:

No

Registered common or village green on Commons Registration Act 1965:

No

Protected under London Squares Preservation Act 1931:

No

Local Authority Data

The information below is taken from the relevant Local Authority's planning legislation, which was correct at the time of research but may have been amended in the interim. Please check with the Local Authority for latest planning information.

On Local List:

No

In Conservation Area:

Yes

Conservation Area name:

Parish Church

Tree Preservation Order:

No

Nature Conservation Area:

No

Green Belt:

No

Metropolitan Open Land:

No

Special Policy Area:

Other LA designation:

None