Our founder has an interesting life story. In about 1373 Sir William de Romschedde, whose manor house was near Riverhill, found an abandoned baby boy. He was adopted into his family and given the name William Sevenoke (Sennock). The child grew up, was made an apprentice to a grocer in London, and in time became Mayor and Chief Magistrate of London.

Shortly before his death, William Sevenoke made a will dated July 4th 1432 in wihc he bequeatherd money to 'maintain for ever, one Master, an honest Man sufficiently instructed in the Science of Grammar... which may keep a Grammar School in some convenient House within the said Town of Sennocke'. it also provided for 'twenty ppor Men or Womaen... being in greater Want', who were to recived ten shillings a year and were to dwell in 'Mansion Houses... to be gotten and ordered with my Goods by the Leave of the King, or by other good and lawful Means, according to the Discretion of my Executors'.

The commemorative plaque on the South Almshouse in Sevenoaks gives the date of founding as 1418., this may not be exact but it is correct within a year or two.

In 1724 the almhouses were knocked down and replaced by the buildings that we use today. The layout, with the schoolhouse in the centre, flanked on either side by the two almshouses were based on a design by Lord Burlington.

The accommodation was for 32 people, with 2 nurses, one for the 'upper row' and one for the 'lower row'. In 1825 the residents were paid 3 shillings a week. They also received 1 shilling, 4 pence and a farthing on Queen Elizabeth's birthday and and 1 shilling on Christmas Day.

The first modernisation on the Almshouses took place in the 1950's. At that time the residents had two rooms each - a bedroom and a kitchen/sitting room. Each block had two toilets and a bath which was situated in the outhouses across the yard. By 1959 the eight extensions at the back of the almshouses had been completed so that each resident had access to a toilet and bath just outside their front door.

Thirty years later, more drastic modernisation was undertaken. The 'two into one' scheme meant exactly that - each pair of apartments was combined to make one larger accommodation - and a reduction in the number of residents from 32 to 16.

In 1997 the Burlington Room was built, providing a much needed central room in which the residents from Sevenoaks and Weald could meet.

As with all old buildings maintenance is ongoing. In addition the trustees are undertaking a substantial rolling modernisation programme to ensure that the almshouses remain appealing into the 21st century.