In 1668 Christopher Thomas Boone (c.1615-1686), a wealthy wool merchant and member of the Merchant Taylors Company, purchased Lee Place, a large mansion in the small rustic village of Lee, Kent, for use as their family home.

Later, in around 1680, he and his wife Mary bought lands in the parish in order to build four almshouses and a chapel.

The almshouses opened in 1683, with an income from endowment of £71 a year. Three of the almshouses were to be shared by 6 poor men and women, whilst the fourth was to be occupied by a schoolmistress, who would educate 12 poor children.

To qualify for a place, applicants had to be able to recite the Lord's Prayer, the Apostles' Creed and the Ten Commandments by heart. If they failed to do so within two months, they could be expelled. All residents were expected to attend the chapel services.

In 1683 the almshouses and the chapel, together with various rents in the area, were conveyed to the Merchant Taylors Company, which was appointed in trust to maintain them.

An increase in land prices during the 19th century led to an increase in income for the charity. Therefore, in 1858, plans were discussed to replace the almshouses, which by then were almost 200 years old. In 1868 a scheme was proposed to double the number of almspeople and to establish an Educational Fund.

In the census of 1871 the occupants of No. 1 Boone's Almshouses were listed as a couple and a widower, possibly unrelated, while No. 2 contained 3 single women and No. 3 a married couple with a 70-year-old servant. In the fourth house, there was another couple, also with a 70-year-old servant. The average age of the occupants was 75 years.

In 1872 a plot of land some 250 metres further east along, on the south side of Lee High Road, was purchased on which to build new almshouses.

In 1876 the residents moved to the new buildings.

Current status