Description from record TQ 76 NE 1 :
[TQ 7526 6792] SIR JOHN HAWKINS'S HOSPITAL [A.T.] Almshouses on site of HOSPITAL [G.T.] (1)(2) The Hospital of Sir John Hawkins, High Street, Chatham - almshouses founded by Sir John Hawkins in 1592. Nos. 1-10 were rebuilt 18th/19th c: Nos.11-12 carry the date 1824. (3) Sir John Hawkins' hospital, or almshouse, for seamen is of little architectural interest. The interiors were remodelled a few years ago and the block now comprises 10 dwellings only. G.P. AO/64/117/1. (4) The hospital of Sir John Hawkins (Nos 1 to 12 consec) Grade II. These almshouses were founded in 1592 by Sir John Hawkins, Knight, of Chatham, as is stated on them. Nos 1-10 were rebuilt at the end of the 18th century or beginning of the 19th century. (5) Additional bibliography. (6) Additional bibliography - not consulted. (7)

Added 27.4.10 from "listed buildings online"

762-1/3/10 HIGH STREET
09-OCT-09 (North side)
THE HOSPITAL OF SIR JOHN HAWKINS AND A
TTACHED FRONT RAILINGS

(Formerly listed as:
HIGH STREET
1-12
THE HOSPITAL OF SIR JOHN HAWKINS)
(Formerly listed as:
HIGH STREET
1-12
THE HOSPITAL OF SIR JOHN HAWKINS)

GV II
Almhouses, now sheltered housing. The original foundation was of 1592 but the almshouses were rebuilt in 1789. They were converted into flats in 1983.

BUILDING MATERIALS: Brick with rendered plinth, brick rear lateral stacks and a tiled hipped roof.

PLAN: Two parallel ranges each with four single-depth plan houses facing a quadrangle, with a central rear Council House and rear three house range.

EXTERIOR: The ranges are each of two storeys with one window to each almshouse. The parapeted flat gables to the street have a plinth, blind round-headed arch and rectangular sunken panel above. Each house has cambered heads to a doorway nearer the rear and three-light mullion and transom windows with central metal casements and leaded lights. The Council Room is a single-storey, three-bay range. A shallow pedimented gable opens above the doorway, round-arched openings flank the doorway with a radial fanlight and flush-panelled door, and blocked flanking windows. A brick archway to the right of the Council Room leads to a C19 range of yellow brick houses matching the front ranges.

INTERIOR: Not inspected but known that a hall passage leads to C20 lateral stairs; altered 1983.

SUBSIDIARY FEATURES: Attached metal railings on dwarf walls connect the two ranges with a central round overthrow.

HISTORY: The original almshouses were founded by Sir John Hawkins for poor seamen, shipwrights and their wives in 1592 and followed his 1590 scheme with Drake called the "Chatham Chest" which deducted 5% from all seamen on the royal ships to pay compensation to injured and disabled sailors, pensions to the aged and burial money for the dead. The present building is a rebuilding of 1789. The almshouses were converted into flats in 1983.

SOURCES:
Newman, J. "The Buildings of England: West Kent and the Weald" 1976. p202.
Dictionary of National Biography entry for Sir John Hawkins.

REASONS FOR DESIGNATION:
* These are little altered 1789 almshouses with classical details and an unusual central Council House.
* The almshouses have additional historic interest as a rebuilding of Sir John Hawkins 1592 almshouses for 12 poor seamen or shipwrights and their wives.
* It is an example of an early maritime charitable bequest.

he following text is from the original listed building designation:

CHATHAM
TQ7567NW HIGH STREET 762-1/3/10 (North side) 29/10/52 Nos.1-12 (Consecutive) The Hospital of Sir John Hawkins and attached front railings (Formerly Listed as: HIGH STREET, Chatham Town (North side) Nos.1-12 (Consecutive) The Hospital of Sir John Hawkins)
GV II
Almshouses, now sheltered housing. Founded 1592, rebuilt 1789, converted to flats 1983. Brick with rendered plinth, brick rear lateral stacks and a tiled hipped roof. PLAN: parallel ranges each of 4 single-depth plan houses to a quadrangle, with a central rear Council House and rear 3-house range. EXTERIOR: each of 2 storeys; 1-window range. Parapeted flat gables to the street have a plinth, blind round-headed arch and rectangular sunken panel above. Each house has cambered heads to a doorway nearer the rear and 3-light mullion and transom windows with central metal casements and leaded lights. Council Room is a single-storey, 3-bay range, a shallow pedimented gable opens above the doorway, round-arched openings the doorway with a radial fanlight and flush-panelled door, and blocked flanking windows. A brick archway to the right of the Council Room leads to a C19 range of yellow brick houses matching the front ranges. INTERIOR: a hall passage leads to C20 lateral stairs; altered 1983. SUBSIDIARY FEATURES: attached metal railings on dwarf wall connect the two ranges, with a central round overthrow. HISTORY: founded for retired mariners. (The Buildings of England: Newman J: West Kent and the Weald: London: 1976-: 202).
Listing NGR: TQ7528167943 (9)

Canterbury Archaeological Trust, 2005, Archaelogical, Documentary and Historical Assessment of the Lower High Street/Ship Lane Proposed Development and Neighbouring Land, Rochester (Unpublished document). SKE15869.

<1> O.S. 1/500 1866 (OS Card Reference). SKE47783.

<2> O.S. 1/1250 1963 (OS Card Reference). SKE47778.

<3> M.H.L.G. (958/11/A, March 1951) 4 (OS Card Reference). SKE46255.

<4> F1 CFW 04-NOV-64 (OS Card Reference). SKE42421.

<5> DOE (HHR) Borough of Chatham 1971 2 (OS Card Reference). SKE39904.

<6> Bldgs of Eng West Kent and the Weald 1980 202 (J Newman) (OS Card Reference). SKE38044.

<7> Roch Nat 4 1908 27 (OS Card Reference). SKE49283.

<8> Field report for monument TQ 76 NE 1 - November, 1964 (Bibliographic reference). SKE4026.

<9> English Heritage, List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest (Map). SKE16160.