Almshouses in St. Ives, situated at the end of Wesley Place just behind the Wesley Chapel, were in existence as far back as the 17^th century, when Mrs. C. Hext a widow, who died in 1648, left the sum of £50 to the Chief Burgesses for the use of the St. Ives Corporation. Under the provisions of her will, an Almshouse for six people was founded in the year following her death.

In the early 1800s the Almshouse was sold by the Corporation and the proceeds applied to the purchase of a Poor House (possibly in Dove Street). On the formation of the District Union, these latter premises were let as warehouses.

In 1905 the Matthews Flats were built by a Mr. John Thomas Matthews, the father of J. Hobson Matthews, the well-known historian of St. Ives. Originally there were twelve flats, the facilities provided being more or less in line with many dwellings occupied by local working class folk. There was a small living room in which the heating was provided by the old fashioned Cornish Range, and a small bedroom divided by a wooden partition. There was no indoor water supply or lighting, the toilets being outside and shared by the residents; three toilets for the six ground floor flats. Originally, there was only one cold water tap for the whole of the twelve flats, this being on the ground floor.

In 1909 however, the Trustees agreed to install a water supply for the residents on the first floor at the cost of £1.13.6 Access to both balconies, which were constructed of wood, and open to all wind and weather was by means of wood staircases, these also led to the toilets and taps.

The weekly payment was stipulated in the deeds by the donor and was to be 1/- (one shilling per week). In those early years of the flats history one shilling would go a long way and could have represented a fair share of the residents income, as at that time there was no old age pension, only Parish Relief. The flats had to be self supporting.

It was not until 1960 that the first major improvements were made. New balconies were constructed of concrete, with built in store cupboards, being fully enclosed, with very large windows to let in as much light as possible; two of the flats, one on the first floor, and one on the ground floor were used for the installation of shared toilets and bathrooms on each floor, and an inside staircase leading to the first floor. The old Cornish ranges, some beyond repair were removed and replaced by modern style fireplaces. Sink units were installed with hot water heaters and water supply brought in to each flat.

At the re-opening ceremony, the Honorary Secretary was able to state that the £1,500 costs had been met by donation, grants etc., and even a little extra added to the funds. A BBC appeal raised something in the region of £600.

As time went on however, and living standards improved, shared toilets and bathrooms became a thing of the past and the Trustees had to consider the possibility of making further improvements, giving each resident their own toilet and bathroom.

For close on one hundred years, the Almshouse have provided sheltered housing for a large number of elderly people where they could spend the remaining years of their lives in their own home, amongst their friends and with their own possessions around them. In the early days of the Trust, these small homes as they were then, were for many the only alternative to an entrance into the dreaded ‘workhouse’.

Source: The John Thomas Matthews Trust Flats by William Mitchell

St. Ives Times and Echo, 1^st October 1993