MATTHEW SMITH AND HIS ALMSHOUSES
Matthew Smith, the founder of the Belper Almshouse Charity or, as it was often known in the eighteenth century, the Belper Hospital remains a shadowy figure. He was born in 1636-7 the son of Henry Smith of Denby and Whitemoor and his wife Jane. The family was prosperous; Henry owned property in Denby and bequeathed in his will land in Belper to endow a stipend for the Priest at St John’s Chapeland to assist the poor.
Matthew Smith added considerably to his inheritance. He continued the family’s association with Denby and Whitemoor purchasing during the 1680s an estate in Whitemoor from the Lowe family and building himself a substantial house. Already in 1670 he owned extensive property in Denby and paid tax on seven hearths. The origin of his wealth is unknown but it is clear from his will that he held land and property in Nottinghamshire and in Derbyshire. Among his property was a house in central Nottingham – in High Pavement adjoining the Queen’s Hall – and two houses and a malthouse in Linby Lane. In Derbyshire he owned part of the Manor of Holbrook and land in Holbrook and Ripley, land and three houses and tithes in Horsley Woodhouse and further property in Langley, Kilburn, Heanor, Marehay and Belper. In 1685 he was Sheriff of the county and was granted Arms; in 1711 he was one of the Commissioners for the Land tax.
To read more about the history of Matthew Smith Almshouses, click the link below to download the PDF file of the entire book. This can be viewed with the free Adobe Acrobat Reader software