The Harris Almshouses were named after their founder Thomas Harris, a hop-merchant, of Canterbury. In 1726, Harris had built five almshouses with gardens on the east side of Wincheap, to house five poor families (positioned between the modern 17-19 Wincheap, site of depot on modern map). His will, proved 8th June 1726, mentions that as to all his five messuages and dwellings, with the gardens and appurtenances in Wincheap, in St. Mildred's, which he designed as almshouses, and in which he had placed five old men and their wives, to live there during their lives, rent free; he gave and devised the same to some nine trustees, to them and their heirs for ever, upon trust, as such old persons as were or should be placed therein by him, during his life, should continue therein during their lives, rent free, they respectively keeping the dwellings and appurtances, and the fences of the gardens and backsides thereto belonging, in good repair. That upon the death of any resident that another poor person should be placed therein. Two of the premises should house two poor persons of the parish of St. Mary Magdalen and another two house poor persons from St. Mildred's parish; each to be aged at least 50 years or more and not in receipt of alms of any sort from the said parishes. He also bequeathed his farm called Marley in Kingston them receiving a yearly rent of £21…etc.

The almshouses were still there in 1874 and are shown on the 1st edition OS map. However, they are no longer listed in the Kelly's Directory for 1931 thus they may have been removed. By the 1970's a vehicle depot had been built on its site.

Hasted, E, 1799, The History of the Ancient and Metropolitical City of Canterbury. Vol 1. Canterbury (Article in monograph). SKE29735.