Catalogue description MRS ESTHER DOE'S ALMSHOUSE CHARITY

See also A/FWA/C/K/01.

In 1868 Esther Doe, widow of Joseph Bolton Doe of Streatham, Surrey, gave to trustees a piece of land in Chase Lane, Winchmore Hill, Edmonton, on which they were to build almshouses for poor, but respectable unmarried women aged at least 55 years. They were to be of the Protestant faith and to have an income of between £10 and £20 a year. Preference was given to women from Bethnal Green, Whitechapel and Streatham. As an endowment for the charity she gave the trustees nos 10-11 Christchurch Road, Streatham (later nos 21 and 23), and Nos 4, 5, and 6 Mount Etna, Mile End Road, Stepney (later nos 250, 252 and 254 Mile End Road). The Almshouses were known as Doe's Memorial Almshouses or the Memorial Terrace.

In her will proved in 1872 she created a further charity to pay annuities of £10 to poor unmarried women. This was managed by the same trustees.