Condlyffe Almshouses, Condlyffe Road, Leek

CONDLYFFE ALMSHOUSES. In 1867 Elizabeth Condlyffe (d. 1878) bought land at Cornhill Cross as the site for six almshouses. Eight were in fact built in 1882 in what later became Condlyffe Road. In two ranges joined by an arch, they are in an Arts and Crafts style designed by an architect named Lowe. Residence is restricted to men and women aged 50 years or over who are members of the Church of England. In 1966 each of the eight houses was divided into an upper and a lower self-contained flats. [Victoria County History - A History of the County of Stafford: Volume 7: Leek and the Moorlands]

LEEK – CONDLYFFE ALMSHOUSES – TO BUILDERS – The Trustees are prepared to RECEIVE TENDERS for the whole or any of the WORKS. The drawings etc., may be inspected at the offices of the Architect, Mr J Lowe, Manchester; or at Messrs Thomas Brealey and Sons, land agents, Leek, from eleven am to four pm. The quantities may be obtained upon application to the Architect. A deposit of 20s will be required, which will be returned on receipt of a bone fide tender. The trustees do not bind themselves to accept the lowest or any tender. -  JOHN LOWE F.I.B.A., 22 Mansfield Chambers Manchester, 25 August 1881. [Manchester Guardian 27 August 1881 page 4]

The design of the almshouses was erroneously attributed to Norman Shaw by MH Miller, a local historian writing in 1891. (Miller MH: Olde Leek: Historical Biographical, Anecdotal and Archaeological: Leek: 1891-).

Archive - Bundle of 23 letters relating to the affairs of the Condlyffe Charity, Leek, Staffordshire in the period from July 1881 to April 1884. Some are concerned with the building of 8 almshouses including the addition of an inscription stone and many are from John Lowe, architect, Mansfield Chambers, St. Ann's Square, Manchester. The work was evidently being carried out by Tomkinson, Grace and others

Reference    Manchester Guardian 27 August 1881 page 4 – contracts
Reference    Victoria County History - A History of the County of Stafford: Volume 7: Leek and the Moorlands
Reference    Condlyffe Charity Minutes Book 1867-1976 in possession of Challinors and Shaw