Inside the Liversage Trust’s London Road homes in Derby

For Pat, the Almshouses on London Road in Derby are far more than just a place to live. ‘They’re home,’ she says simply.

Seventy-three-year-old Pat has lived at the Almshouses for almost 12 years, having moved into No. 2 in July 2014.

As the Grade II-listed buildings undergo a major £3m refurbishment, the first of its kind since the Almshouses were originally built in 1836, Pat is one of the few residents who will experience life there both before and after the restoration.

And she cannot wait to return.

‘From the moment I walked into the house, I felt at home,’ she reveals warmly. ‘It was small and cosy, it felt very homely from day one.’

At the time, Pat had recently gone through a major life change. Having been married for many years, moving into the Almshouses was the first time she had lived alone.

‘It felt like a weight had lifted off my shoulders,’ Pat recalls. ‘It was the start of a new chapter for me.’

No. 2 Liversage Almhouses (Image: The Liversage Trust)

Pat was born in Manchester but her parents relocated to Derby when she was still a baby. She had heard about the Almshouses through the Liversage Trust’s former general manager, Yvonne Taylor, after her son-in-law carried out work in the Trust’s care home.

Founded in 1529 by Robert Liversage, the Liversage Trust is Derby’s oldest charity, with a portfolio of over 160 almshouses across several estates – including the Georgian Grade II-listed London Road site and the Nottingham Road conservation area, providing affordable housing for Derby residents aged 60 and over in financial need. Additionally, the Trust operates Liversage Court, a 40-bed residential care home.

At the time she applied, Pat was living with her daughter, having recently separated from her former husband.

She still vividly remembers arriving for the first time.

‘I walked through the big double doors on London Road and couldn’t believe what was behind them,’ she recalls.

‘All the little cottages and the beautiful gardens, it was such a surprise. It felt like an oasis in the middle of town.’

The peaceful gardens remain one of Pat’s favourite things about living there.

‘Tony keeps the gardens beautifully,’ she says. ‘On a nice day you can sit by the fishpond, listen to the fountain and hear the birds singing. You close your eyes and it’s just peaceful and calm.’

Although Pat admits that at the beginning her one-bedroom cottage was outdated and, she points out, she didn’t have her own washing machine, she nevertheless loved it.

‘It suited me,’ she laughs. ‘The house was always lovely and warm, and the bills were affordable too.’

Over the years only minor changes had been made to the property, including replacing a gas fire with an electric one, meaning the upcoming restoration is the biggest transformation residents have ever seen.

The refurbishment will modernise and improve accessibility throughout the Almshouses, creating updated homes fit for future generations while carefully preserving the site’s historic character.

For Pat, who lives with a lung condition, the improvements will make a real difference. She hopes to move into one of the newly created accessible bungalows, although she says she would happily return to No. 2.

An oasis of calm (Image: The Liversage Trust)

‘Everything will be new including the kitchen and bathroom, which will be lovely, I’m excited about that,’ she says.

‘The downstairs toilet will make such a difference, and the new stairs won’t be as steep. Plus, I’ll have space for my own washing machine!

‘The renovations were needed and necessary, so the upheaval of moving out is worth it.’

Pat, who temporarily moved to a flat on the Trust’s Nottingham Road Estate, has praised the support she has received throughout the relocation process.

‘The Liversage Trust can’t do enough for you,’ she reveals. ‘They made sure everything was sorted and that we were looked after during the move.’

But while the buildings themselves hold special memories, it is the people that Pat says truly make the Almshouses unique.

‘The staff are lovely and the neighbours are wonderful,’ she beams.

Pat has been a resident since 2014 (Image: The Liversage Trust)

‘Everyone looks out for each other. There are lots of different characters, from different walks of life and that’s what makes it special.’

Pat describes herself as ‘a bit of a mother hen’, often checking in on fellow residents and making sure everyone is alright.

‘You can have your own peace and quiet, but there’s always someone around if you want company,’ she explains. ‘There’s a sort of magic about the place.’

Some former neighbours will not be returning after the refurbishment and Pat says she will undoubtedly miss them. Yet, she is equally looking forward to seeing familiar faces again as her friends and neighbours move back in.

A keen crafter, Pat enjoys crochet and embroidery and always has a creative project on the go. Her two daughters, son and grandchildren regularly visit her at London Road, a location she values for its close proximity to Derby city centre and the Royal Derby Hospital, which she visits regularly for appointments.

Pat is likely to be out of her home for as long as 12 to 18 months as work continues on site. While change can be uncomfortable even when necessary, Pat says that one aspect has never changed.

‘It’s my safe haven and I wouldn’t want to live anywhere else,’ she concludes. ‘If someone offered me a mansion, I still wouldn’t leave. The Almshouses are my home.’

Phase one of works are scheduled to finish in the September of this year and Pat may move back at this point. Alternatively, it will be later in 2027 as subsequent phases are completed..

‘From the moment I walked into the house, I felt at home’