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Wandesford House is an eighteenth-century almshouse in the centre of York, one of twelve still-functioning almshouses in the city, and the oldest still in its original building. Built in 1739 and opened in 1743, the house is an important example of the classical style in the city. Like many historic almshouses, it was referred to as a hospital before that term became chiefly associated with medical establishments. The almshouse lies a few yards outside the city walls on the north-west side of Bootham behind its front garden and between houses of later date. Inside are twelve flats intended for single Christian women, who are in hardship, need or distress, and over 50 years of age. Wandesford House is listed by English Heritage as a Grade II * building and is owned and run by Mary Wandesford's Charity (the Wandesford Trust; charity reg. 251379). The archives of the Charity are held at the Borthwick Institute for Archives, University of York. ==Foundation of the hospital== Wandesford Hospital was founded under the terms of Mary Wandesford's will. She bequeathed an estate at Brompton-on-Swale valued at £1,200, together with another £1,200 in South Sea Stock in trust "for the use of ten poor gentlewomen who were never married and who shall be of the religion which is taught and practised in the Church of England as by law established, who shall retire from the hurry and noise of the world into a religious house of protestant retirement which shall be provided for them and they shall be obliged to continue there for life…”. The wording of this appears to have suggested to the Wandesford family that she intended it as a kind of nunnery for young women, which at that period may have seemed an undesirable aim. In any case, her heirs took the will to the Court of Chancery for a ruling. The Court upheld the will in 1739, but decreed that the age at entry to the hospital should be 50 years, to ensure that it would be a refuge for elderly spinsters, and not a house of retirement for young women. The house was completed in 1743 and opened to its first ten women beneficiaries, who were paid the stipend that made the establishment an alms house. Because so many almshouses were for widows, one slightly unfortunate result was that it became known as the Old Maids' Hospital or, sometimes, the Protestant Old Maids' Hospital. A farm near Brompton-on-Swale, formerly part of the endowment, is still known as Old Maids Farm. Since 1975, some of the restrictions on entry to the almshouse have been lifted, so that the title Old Maids' Hospital is no longer appropriate (and is never used). The house now accepts single women of any Christian faith and any former marital status and is simply known as Wandesford House. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Wandesford House」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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