Monument record MDO19000 - Nappers Mite, Dorchester; almshouse

Napper's Almshouse or Nappier's Mite in Dorchester was founded ".... in 1615 by Sir Robert Napier of Middlemarsh, for ten poor men ...."although Hutchins later referred to an inscription over the door `Built to the honour of God, by Sir Robert Napper, knt 1615'. <1>

Drew also called the almshouse "Napper's Mite, founded by Sir Robert Napier" but gave a foundation date of 1616. <3>

Napier's Mite. 1616 (visual date stone) is a stone built almshouse in the process of being cleaned and internally reconstructed for use as commercial premises. <4>

Napper's Mite, now a minute shopping precinct, but built as almshouses for ten poor men in 1616 under the will of Sir Robert Napper. The street front is of 1842, but repeats the original arcading on the ground floor. Behind lies a tiny courtyard with one-storey rubble-stone ranges round. The chapel was in the south east corner, with a three-light arched window in the east wall. <5> <7>

No change. Now known as Napper's Mite. <8>

<1> Shipp, W, and Hodson, J W (eds), 1863, The History and Antiquities of the County of Dorset. 3rd edition. Volume 2, 370-71 (Monograph). SWX1269.

<2> Ordnance Survey, Various, Ordnance Survey Map 1:500, 1888 (Map). SWX1328.

(SY 69259048) Napier's Almshouse (1616) (NAT)

<3> Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society, 1953, Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society for 1952, 29-31 (Serial). SDO52.

<4> Rigg, J, Field Investigators Comments JR, F1 JR 18-MAY-54 (Unpublished document). SWX1255.

<5> Royal Commission on Historical Monuments (England), 1970, An Inventory of Historical Monuments in the County of Dorset, Volume II (South East) Part 1, 116-7, no.19 (Monograph). SDO148.

<6> Ordnance Survey, Ordnance Survey 25-inch map, 1971 (Map). SDO10373.

(SY 69259048) Napier's Mite (NR)

<7> Newman, J, and Pevsner, N, 1972, The Buildings of England: Dorset, 91-2 (Monograph). SWX1290.

<8> Barton, J G, Various, Field Investigators Comments JGB, F2 JGB 10-OCT-80 (Unpublished document). SDO11900.

<9> National Record of the Historic Environment, 453284 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Aug 22 2024 7:35PM