Our history

United St Saviour’s Charity – also known as the Corporation of Wardens of the Parish of St Saviour’s – can trace its roots back to the fifteenth century. Founded during the reign of Henry VI as the Guild of the Fraternity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, it was later incorporated under Henry VIII to manage parish affairs and local charities for the people of north Southwark.

Among our benefactors was Thomas Cure, saddler to Edward VI, Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth I. In 1588, Thomas Cure bequeathed properties in Park Street, which became St Saviour’s College or Hospital for the Poor. The College remained in Park Street for almost 300 years until the building of the Charing Cross railway forced the relocation of the almshouses to Hamilton Road, West Norwood. In July 1952 the Queen Mother visited the almshouse residents.

Today the Charity has three main functions: the management of sheltered housing, the provision of grants to organisations, and the management of investments and property to achieve these first two aims.

A beer flagon dated c.1300, found in the Wheatsheaf, 6 Stoney Street.