The Frederick Ray Trust Almshouses
Rays Close, Bedford, Bedfordshire, MK42 0BE
Rays Close, Bedford, Bedfordshire, MK42 0BE
Click to enlarge or scrollManaged by
Frederick Ray Trust
Manager's Description
"The Frederick Ray Trust Charity was established by the will, dated 29th September 1944, of the late Frederick Ray in memory of his first son, Lt Frederick Lee Ray of the Bedfordshire Regiment, who was..." Show more "The Frederick Ray Trust Charity was established by the will, dated 29th September 1944, of the late Frederick Ray in memory of his first son, Lt Frederick Lee Ray of the Bedfordshire Regiment, who was killed in action in May 1918 in Northern France.Frederick Ray was a self-made businessman in Bedford, who wanted to provide dwellings for his retired former-employees after he died, and the Charity was established primarily with this motive. By the 1980s, there were none of these former employees left, so the Charity broadened its remit, but kept its geographic constraints. Derick Ray, son of the founder (Frederick Ray) and half-brother to Frederick Lee Ray was a founding Trustee and remained so until his death in 1996.
Under the terms of the Charity, the Trustees were empowered to purchase land in or near Kempston, Bedford for the erection of cottages to house aged, poor or infirm persons, living in rural Kempston, Stagsden or Bedford.
Following the creation of the Charity, a suitable site was acquired in the south of Bedford off the Cardington Road. The site is now named Ray’s Close and 18 bungalows have been erected to date. 10 of these are currently occupied by couples and 8 by single residents.
Christopher Ray (grandson of Frederick Ray) has been a Trustee since around 1984 and it is an important obligation (although not a Trust requirement) of the family that there should be at least one representative at all times as a Trustee." Show less
Main Facts
Age exclusive housing
Tenure(s): Licence
18 bungalows. Built in 1984. Sizes 1 bedroom, 2 bedroom.
Garden
Housing Authority: Bedford
Social Care Authority: Bedford
Info updated: 14/09/2023
If you are the manager of The Frederick Ray Trust Almshouses and want to update your information, please click here.
If you are the manager of The Frederick Ray Trust Almshouses and want to update your information, please click here.
Managed by
Frederick Ray Trust
Memberships
The Almshouse Association: The charity that runs this facility is a member of The Almshouse Association which supports and represents independent almshouse charities across the UK
