History

Shen Place Almshouses were established under a Trust by the Heseltine family on 29th June 1911 and subsequently registered as a charity. Evelyn Heseltine, a City stockbroker, had moved to Brentwood in 1876 purchasing a cottage in Great Warley known as Goldings. The cottage was considerably expanded for his needs.

In 1910 Evelyn Heseltine purchased six cottages from Brentwood School for £500 and had them demolished. He had already commissioned and financed St Mary the Virgin Church in Great Warley in 1904 and now used the same architects to build the almshouses. He then established the trust by deed and it opened to house six needy couples in July 1911.

Evelyn Heseltin endowed the Trust with fixed interest bearing investments with a then value of around £5,000, a substantial sum at that time. In consequence single residents (very few in those days) had their income made up to 10/- (50p) per week and couples to 15/- (75p) per week.

In addition each couple received an allowance of 2 tons of coal a year. Needless to say, the endowed fund has failed to keep pace with inflation and although residents still pay no rent, they are required to make a contribution towards maintenance and heating costs.....and there is now gas fired central heating!

The buildings were Listed Grade 2 in 1994 and this has placed an additional financial burden on the trustees.