The Almshouses in North Street were originally built in the 17th century by
Edward Wilkes a great benefactor of the Town. They were provided with a trust
fund to be used to accommodate some of the poor and needy of the town.
The Wilkes Walk
The Almshouses in North Street were originally built in the 17th century by
Edward Wilkes a great benefactor of the Town. They were provided with a trust
fund to be used to accommodate some of the poor and needy of the town.
The Trust continues to this day and to ensure that the Town remembers who was the original provider of the houses
The Wilkes Walk originated as a provision of the will of a
Matthew
Wilkes
a son of Edward who decreed that comprises a procession led by a garland bearer,
with the choir, clergy, churchwardens of All Saints together with the Trustees
of the Wilkes charity.
It makes its way through the town centre to the almshouses where, after a short
service, an extract from Edwards will is read out whilst a young member of the
choir is up-ended. Tradition had it that after the event the choir was
rewarded with buns and beer at the Market Cross. This was stopped in 1896 when
over 200 buns and large quantities of Ale were consumed. Today the buns are
still served back at All Saints but only washed down with Lemonade.