Abbot's Hospital

It's not a hospital but town centre housing in Guildford for some 20 elderly people. The house was founded in 1619 by George Abbot, a big cheese in these parts during the reign of James I (that's James VI for Scottish blippers).

Born in 1562, Abbot went to the same town centre school, Royal Grammar School, Guildford, that our two eldest sons attended. The school was built between 1557 and 1586 so Abbot must have been one of its first pupils. It has one of the UK's few remaining examples of a chained library.

Abbot was one of the translators of the authorised version of the New Testament and as Archbishop of Canterbury presided over the coronation of Charles I. He also shot a man dead, accidentally, with his crossbow while out hunting, making him the only Archbishop of Canterbury to kill someone.

This picture was taken from the porch of the residence from behind the door, looking out at Holy Trinity Church where Abbot is buried.