Drive and Stroll, with Ron Freethy visits Beamsley Hospital

FROM medieval times until well into the 19th century, alms houses had a role which these days is the responsibility of the welfare services.

They were a much more gentle solution to problems of poverty than the Victorian workhouse.

Beamsley Hospital is situated close to the main road from Skipton to Harrogate, just beyond the Devonshire Arms Hotel.

It is not actually a hospital but a very impressive set of alms houses started in the 17th century by the mother of Lady Anne Clifford and completed by her as a memorial to her mum.

The building is quite splendid and of particular interest is the Clifford coat of arms over the entrance and also the unique circular chapel.

The original occupants were the poor widows of the area but the houses are now owned by the Landmark Trust and are let out as holiday homes.

Not all alms houses have closed following the successes of the welfare state. There are some in our area which still serve their original purpose, while others have been adapted to serve other functions.

Among those situated closer to East Lancashire are alms houses at Styd near Ribchester, Waddington, Hurst Green and Whalley.

From Beamsley I decided to stroll along the River Wharfe upstream to Bolton Abbey.

Bolton Priory does not stand on its original site but was moved from Embsay, nearer to Skipton.

Embsay was founded by the Augustinians in 1120 and moved to Bolton in 1135.

They differed from monks as they were clerks in holy orders and were governed by bishops. Thus priories and abbeys served different functions, and the church of Bolton Priory was used not only by the Augustinians but also by the local population.

This no doubt saved the church when the religious houses were dissolved by Henry VIII between 1536 and 1540 and the buildings were dismantled.

It was deemed that the priory church belonged to the people and the place of worship was left alone, although the rest of the buildings were destroyed.

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