Following his death in 1910, Thomas Watson's daughters Annie and Florence decided to build 12 almshouses in his memory. He had been the general manager and, later, proprietor of the hauliers Sutton & Company, and the almshouses would be for the benefit of "old and loyal employees of the firm".

In 1914 eight single-storey buildings were erected on the west side of Leecroft Road, arranged around three sides of a large grassed quad. The western side of the quad - facing Leecroft Road - contained a central community hall with a single bungalow either side of it. On the north and south sides of the quad two semi-detached faced each other, with a single bungalow flanking each of the eastern pair.

A warden lived in No. 1, while the remaining dwellings housed 11 couples or single people. Each property had individual and shared back gardens.

The central hall was built in a Queen Anne style, while the bungalows were in a Home Counties vernacular. In the centre of the quad was a bronze sundial set in a large stone.

In 1996 Colgate Court, an apartment block, was built on the east side of Leecroft Road, opposite the quad.

In January 2002 the sundial in the centre of the quad was stolen.

In 2011 eight more single and semi-detached bungalows were added to the north and south of Colgate Court. These were named Jubilee Cottages and were numbered 13-17 and 18-20.

Current status