About - Matthew Smith Almshouses

The Matthew Smith Almshouse Charity

The charity is now managed by a voluntary body/board of Trustees appointed from the local community, the church, town and District Councils for old people in need in our community.

The charity takes its name from a local Belper resident Matthew Smith who died in 1713 bequeathing land to fund the upkeep of the two Almshouses he had already built in Belper near St John’s Chapel at the heart of the oldest part of the town.

The charity currently has two properties, the Matthew Smith Almshouses and Broadhurst House adjoining the Almshouses.

The original Matthew Smith Almshouses were rebuilt in 1829 but by the 1970s they were dilapidated and soon after unfit for use; the building was sealed and abandoned. In 1829 the charity was reconstituted. The new trustees raised the money to repair extend and modernise the two homes and bring them back into use. They were reopened in October 1991 by Deborah, the late Dowager Duchess of Devonshire.

Broadhurst House

Broadhurst House takes its name from the late Charles Broadhurst, who as a trustee of the charity inspired his colleagues to purchase and undertake the conversion and refurbishment of the large building which overlooks The Butts. The conversion won an award from the Almshouse Association, presented by HRH The Prince of Wales. The four homes in Broadhurst House were formally by Deborah, the late Dowager Duchess of Devonshire in October 2000.

Moving Forward

The Charity’s six residential units are maintained to a high standard, for the exclusive use of older people, so addressing a need which, though it may be less visible in the Belper of today, than it was in centuries past, still exists and still must be met. The Charity plans to build more Almshouse units in the town and will start as soon as a suitable site can be acquired.

The Charity

Our charity is run by trustees drawn from the local community, the parish church, and the town and district councils. We are proud of our heritage and conscience of our place in a long line of local people who have sustained this Charity over three centuries; but we know that the best way to honour our inheritance is to continue the service we provide for older people in need and to expand it as best we can, within our means, to fit today’s requirements.

Matthew Smith Almshouse Charity

It is hoped that the charity will continue to to develop further quality affordable accommodation in the future to meet the growing demand.