St Saviour's College - or Hospital of the Poor - originated from various almshouses founded in the parish of St Saviour, Southwark, during the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries, which were merged together by the Charity Commission. These included the almshouses of Thomas Cure, Henry Jackson, Henry Spratt and Henry Young. All located in Deadman's Place, they were forced to moved when the land on which they stood was purchased by the Charing Cross Railway Company in the early 1860s.

A rectangular piece of land of just over 8,000 square metres was purchased in West Norwood and the foundation stone for the College was laid in 1862.

The chapel, and the flanking south block containing 16 almshouses, were the first buildings to be completed in 1863.

By 1866 the west block and the western part of the north block were completed, as well as the entrance lodge. Built in the Victorian Gothic style, the 2-storey red brick buildings were arranged facing a central open quadrangle.

On one of the walls of the west wing were three stones inscribed:

THE GIFT OF HENRY SPRATT CARPENTER 1709

THE GUIFT OF MR. HENRY JACKSON BUILT IN THE YEARE 1685

THE GUIFT OF HENRY YOUNG IN THE YEARE 1690

By 1868 all the inhabitants in the almshouses of Deadman's Place had transferred to the new buildings, with the exception of those in Alleyn's Almshouses, who had moved to new premises in Gravel Lane, Southwark.

In 1884, when the east block had been completed, the residents of Alleyn's Almshouses in Gravel Lane transferred to this new accommodation. The foundation stone of Alleyn's Almshouses was mounted in a stone block and displayed in the garden.

In 1908 the north block was extended eastwards.

A Recreation Hall was added in 1913 to the northwest corner of the site.

In 1931 the entrance lodge was replaced by a 2-storey house and, in 1936, the south block was rebuilt, opening on 16th October 1937.

During WW2 (1939-1945), on 22nd July 1944, the east block was destroyed by a V1 flying bomb.

After the war the east block was rebuilt, opening on 18th October 1952.

In the 1960s the almshouses consisted of 64 dwellings - Nos. 1-12 in the east block, Nos. 13-28 in the south block, Nos. 29-48 in the west block and Nos. 49-64 in the north block.

In 2003 the site was sold to a housing association and, with the proceeds of the sale, new almshouses were built in Purley.

By September 2006 the almshouses had been vacated; their residents had moved to their new accommodation in St Saviour's Court.

Current status