Haberdashers' Hospital

Aske's Hospital.

So named from one Mr. Robert Aske, an Haberdasher that dealt in Raw Silk, born in Yorkshire: Who dying in the Year 1688, was buried in Aldermanbury Church; in which Parish he lived. By his last Will, he left 20000l. to the Company of Haberdashers, in Trust, to Build and Endow an Hospital, for the Harbour and Relief of Twenty poor, decayed, single Men of the Company. And then, after divers other Legacies and Charitable Bequests, the whole Remainder of his Estate he left to the said Company: Which, as it held out, he gave them in Trust for Twenty poor Boys, Sons of Haberdashers; to be likewise maintained, and have Learning in the foresaid Foundation.

Consequently, some of the Chief Members of the Company entred upon the Estate; which amounted to 30000l. and upwards. And upon this fair Bottom, they resolved to erect a very Creditable Structure, both for the Honour of the Founder, and their own. A Model of a Stately Building, as well as convenient for the Purpose, was drawn by Dr. Hook, the Learned Mathematician of Gresham College: By which, they purchasing a convenient Piece of Land at Hoxton, built that Noble Hospital that stands there, at the Expence of 13 or 14000l.

Here are now maintained upon this Foundation Twenty poor Citizens, who have each their Lodgings, Firing, and Diet at a common Table together; and every two Years a Gown; and 3l. a Year in Money, which hereafter may be increased. Likewise as many Boys enjoy the same Benefit; and also are taught to Write and Cypher, to fit them for Callings.

To this Foundation belong also a School and a Chapel; where a Chaplain is provided to read Prayers twice a Day, and to teach the Children. For which he hath his Diet at the common Table, 40l. a Year, and a very convenient Apartment.

The Hospital stands advantageously, with Grass Plats before it, and Rows of Lime Trees. On the Peers of one of the great Gates going in, are Two Stone Statues, representing Two of Aske's Hospital Men, in full Proportion.

The Building is sustained with Stone Columns, with a handsome Portico underneath, the full Length of the Structure.

Under the Pediment, is the Effigies of the Founder in Stone; his Gown on, and a Roll of Parchment in his Hand, which seems to be his Last Will.

Underneath him is thus written:

ROBERTO ASKE Armigero, hujus Hospitij Fundatori, Socie. Haberda. B.M. P.C.

And on one Side of him this Inscription:

Anno Christi MDCLXXXII. Societas Haberdasheorum de London hoc Hospitium condiderunt, ex Legato & Testamento ROBERTI ASKE Armigeri, ejusdem Societatis; ad viginti Senum Alimenta, & totidem Puerorum Educationem.

On the other Side this Inscription:

The Worshipful Company of Haberdashers built this Hospital, pursuant to the Gift and Trust of R. ASKE, Esq; a late Worthy Member of it; for the Relief of Twenty Poor Members, and for the Education of Twenty Boys, Sons of decayed Freemen of that Company.

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Ask's Hospital, founded by one Ask, for decayed Haberdashers, and their Children. Of all which large Accounts have before been given.]

Aske’s Hospital, a handsome edifice at Hoxton, erected by the Haberdasher’s company in the year 1692, pursuant to the will of Robert Aske, Esq; who left 30,000l. for building and endowing it, in order to afford lodging and board for twenty poor men of that company, and for as many boys to be instructed in reading, writing, and arithmetic. Each of the pensioners hath an apartment consisting of three neat rooms, with proper diet at a common table, and firing; the annual sum of 3l. and a gown every second year: which, together with the salaries of the chaplain, clerk, butler, porter, and other domestics, amount to about 800l. per annum.

A plan of the building was drawn by Dr. Hook, a learned mathematician of Gresham College, and upon his model it was erected in an advantageous situation, fronting the east, with grass plats before it, adorned with rows of lime trees, and inclosed with a handsome wall and iron gates. On the piers of the great gates at the south end, are two stone statues, representing two of Aske’s Hospital men, in full proportion. The principal part of the building is only one story high with garrets; where a portico with twenty-one stone pillars extends on a line on each side of the chapel, which is placed in the middle, and on each side above these pillars is a range of twenty-two very small windows. The pillars of the chapel extend to the top of the first story, and that edifice rising considerably above the rest of the building, is terminated by a handsome pediment; with a clock, under which is the effigies of the founder in stone, cloathed in his gown, and holding in his hand a roll of parchment, which seems to be his last will. Under him is the following inscription:

Roberto Aske Armigero, hujus Hospitii
Fundatori, Socie. Haberda. B. M. P. C.

And on one side of him is this inscription:

Anno Christi MDCLXXXII. Societas
Haberdasheorum de London hoc Hospitium
condiderunt, ex Legato & Testamento
Roberti Aske Armigeri, ejusdem Societatis;
ad viginti Senum Alimenta, &
totidem Puerorum Educationem.

On the other side this inscription:

The worshipful Company of Haberdashers
built this Hospital, pursuant to the gift
and trust of R. Aske, Esq; a late
worthy Member of it, for the relief of
twenty poor Members, and for the Education
of twenty Boys, sons of decayed Freemen
of that company.

Fronting the entrance of the chapel is a large pair of very handsome iron gates, and at each end of the hospital is an edifice of the same height as the chapel.

Haberdashers-Alms-Houses, Hoxton, at the N. end of Pitfield-st. about 1/10 of a mile on the L. from the part of Old-st. road which is op. Paul-st.

Haberdashers' Alms HousesHospital, Hoxton, is at the north end of Pitfield.street, on the left hand side of the road, which leads to Hoxton-fields. It is a handsome edifice, consisting of a central building, and two projecting wings, designed by D.R. Roper, Esq. In the middle of the central building is a Doric tetrastyle portico, which leads to the hall and chapel, and the apartments of the chaplain. The lodging rooms of the alms men are on each side of a spacious quadrangle, in the middle of which is a statue of its benevolent founder.

The original building, which was taken down previous to the erection of the present edifice, was a truly Palladian design of that eminent philosopher, and fellow student of Sir Christopher Wren, the inventive Dr. Robert Hooke. It was erected by the Haberdasher's Company in 1692, pursuant to the will of Robert Aske, Esq., who left £30,000 for building and endowing it, in order to afford lodging and board for twenty poor men of that company, and for as many boys to be instructed in reading, writing, and arithmetic. Each of the pensioners has an apartment, consisting of three neat rooms, with proper diet at a common table, and firing. The chaplain resides in the hospital, where he has a house rent-free, and receives a salary of £50 a year, and an allowance for coals.

The affairs of the charity are administered by a committee, consisting of the master and wardens for the time being, the wardens of the. preceding year, such members as have passed the chair, with eight more members of the court of assistants chosen annually, who visit the hospital four times a year and inspect the management and condition thereof, and the conduct of the pensioners and officers.

The Haberdashers' Company have also alms houses on Snow-hill, at Monmouth, and at Newland, in Gloucestershire.

Aske's Hospital, Hoxton. Erected by the Haberdashers' Company in 1692, pursuant to the will of Robert Aske, Esq., who in 1688 left £20,000 to that Company, for building and endowing an Hospital for the relief of twenty poor members of the Haberdashers' Company, and land in remainder, for the education of twenty boys, sons of decayed freemen of the Company, in all about £32,000. But the funds of the charity having greatly increased, a new scheme was drawn up by the Endowed Schools Commissioners, and adopted by the Court of the Haberdashers' Company. The Hospital for decayed freemen has been closed, and the pensioners receive out-door annuities; four £50, two £70, and fourteen £75 a year each. A new school was built (1875–1876) on the site of the old building at Hoxton, with accommodation for 300 boys and 300 girls, day scholars, and open to all; and a second and superior school, a handsome Elizabethan building, on an elevated site at Hatcham, between New Cross, Deptford, and Nunhead. Exhibitions have also been provided, amounting to £1200 a year, of sums not exceeding £40 a year each, chiefly for the sons and daughters of freemen, tenable at Hatcham or any other approved school. The new schools are from the designs of the late Mr. W. Snooke, architect to the Company. The original edifice was designed by Dr. Robert Hooke, the mathematician. The drawing by the architect hangs in the Court Room of the Company.