Historic almshouse fundraising for urgent repairs

The Blue House has been providing accommodation for elderly men and women since 1480

A historic almshouse which has looked after elderly men and women since 1480 is looking to raise £500,000 for urgent repairs.

Somerset's Blue House in Frome is one of just two Grade I-listed buildings in the town.

The almshouse offers reduced price accommodation to people aged over 55 who has connections to Frome and are unable to buy or rent privately.

Chair of trustees Miriam Cheal said: "We have to replace the windows, do substantial repairs to some of the brick work, and replace the slate on the roof, and that has to be approved by listed building consent officers."

Ms Cheal said the building provided an important social service, as some residents had come to them from homelessness.

"Once they're here, they just pay their weekly charge, which is pre-set, and for that they get heating, lighting, accommodation and water," she said.

The current building, dating from 1728, was saved from demolition in the 1960s.

Its windows were replaced with aluminium frames in the 1970s, and because the building has listed frames, they have to be replaced with new aluminium frames rather than wooden ones.

The last major donation the Blue House received was in 2014.

"We feel as trustees that we have a reason to want to keep this going as it is and providing what it has provided for many, many hundreds of years and continue to do so," Ms Cheal said.