The Almshouses

Towards the southern boundary of the village lie the Aberford Almshouses, built by the Gascoigne Sisters Isabella and Elizabeth in the 1840s to commemorate their father and two brothers who died in quick succession in 1842 and 1843. Built in the neo-Gothic style, they originally provided accommodation for farm workers and poor people of the area.

Descibed by Sir Nickolaus Pevsner as an ambitious stone structure in the Gothic style with an elaborate centrally placed tower, many gables and many pinnacles, the buildings are now Grade 2 listed. They were designed by George Fowler Jones (1818-1905), a Scottish architect who was based for most of his working-life in York.

A recent picture of the former Almshouses following an uncharcteristic snow fall.

The original Almshouses were sold to Leeds City Council in 1976 and from the proceeds of sale the Trustees purchased a piece of land from Mercantile Insurance (who at that time owned the Parlington Estate) and on this land built Parlington House, which contained 28 flats. These comprised 14 double and 14 single flats, and the project was officially opened by Lady Sands, a descendant of the Gascoigne family. Six further flats have subsequently been built.

The original almshouses were sold by Leeds City Council and are now a thriving business centre for internet businesses. A substantial extension was built to the rear of the building in 2004 but the original front elevation is unchanged.

Lilliput Lane's "Aberford Gate" is based on the Lodge to the Gascoigne Almshouses.
A recent picture of the Lodge at the former Almshouses