Hickey's Almshouses
Hickey's Almshouses are almshouses between Sheen Road and St Mary's Grove in Richmond, London. A plaque over the entrance records that the almshouses were built "for Ten poor Men and Ten poor Women by the bounty of William Hickey Esq. Who by his Will bequeathed certain Lands and houses in Richmond in Trust for Charitable purposes". William Hickey, who died in 1727 and is buried in an altar tomb in the churchyard of St Mary Magdalene, Richmond, left the income of several properties on Richmond Hill, including The Wick, in trust to provide pensions for  six men and ten women. In 1822 the charity's funds were boosted by a major donation by Elizabeth Doughty. Twenty almshouses, designed by Lewis Vulliamy, in Neo-Tudor style with high chimneys, were built in 1834 from the trust's income. These are Grade II* listed and Historic England's listing also extends to the site's chapel (which is dedicated to St Francis), also built in 1834 and its two gate lodges. A later block of almshouses, built in 1851 in the same style as the main quadrangle, is listed at Grade II. The property, which includes another  29 buildings behind the almshouses, now consists of 49 flats and cottages, a laundry and a workshop. The almshouses are managed by The Richmond Charities. New residents are accepted from 65 years of age. Chapel of St Francis. The chapel, which was enlarged in 1863 by Arthur Blomfield, is dedicated to St Francis of Assisi. It includes a memorial tablet, dated 1874, that commemorates William Hickey.