Thomas Cook Almshouses

These almshouses are almost opposite where I live and I pass them everyday.. I am still feeling under the weather but wanted to make the effort to take a picture of something outside of the house.. We had lots of snow overnight but most has disappeared leaving the pavements slushy and slippy..

For those interested in reading more about these almshouses.

Thomas Cook Almshouses, Chapel and Railings were built in 1891 by G Burgess for Thomas Cooke the famous travel agent.
Built of red brick with tile hanging and applied timber framing to the attics.
It was built as a U-plan with a seven bay central range which have a Tuscan Columned arcade to the ground floor with four plain door cases and mullioned casement windows.
Below the central window is a moulded plaque with the inscription 'Memorial House of call for Mr Cook and invited friends'
The north end houses the caretakers house and has advanced gabled bays, it also has a placque inscribed 'Memorial Cottages Caretaker 1'

Thomas Cook was born in Melbourne in 1808 and was brought up a strict Baptist, in 1826 he became a preacher and toured the region as a village evangelist becoming a Baptist Minister in 1828. He began offering excursions in 1841 with a rail trip from Leicester to a rally in Loughborough with the fare of one shilling to include rail tickets and food for the journey.