Peter Symonds facts for kids

Peter Symonds (born around 1528, died 1586 or 1587) was a rich English merchant. He was known for being a generous person who helped others. His most famous act was setting up special homes called almshouses for people in need in Southeast England. One of these homes in Winchester later became the well-known Peter Symonds College.

Peter Symonds' Early Life and Family

Peter Symonds was born in Winchester, a city in England. His father, John Symonds, was a important city official called a bailiff. His mother's name was Joan. Peter came from a powerful family, and two of his three brothers also became very successful.

• His brother John also became a bailiff in Winchester.
• His brother William became a rich cloth seller and served as the mayor of Winchester several times.

When Peter was about 14 or 15 years old, he moved to London. There, he became an apprentice to William Wilkinson. An apprentice learns a trade or skill from an experienced person. Wilkinson was a sheriff and an alderman in London, which means he was an important city leader. After Wilkinson died, Peter continued to work for his widow, Joan.

The Wilkinson family was very Protestant in their beliefs. Joan Wilkinson was known to many important Protestant figures. She even had to leave England for a while because of her beliefs during the time of the Catholic Queen Mary. When Joan died in 1556, she left some money to Peter Symonds.

Peter Symonds' Successful Career

Peter Symonds became a very successful mercer. A mercer was someone who traded fine fabrics and silks. By 1583, he was one of the main leaders of the Worshipful Company of Mercers, which was a powerful group for mercers in London.

Around 1576, Peter married a woman named Anne. They moved to a part of London called All Hallows on Lombard Street. By 1582, Peter was considered one of the wealthiest people in London. In fact, he was one of the two richest men in his local area. Historians believe he earned his wealth mainly from selling cloth, which was a very profitable business in London at that time.

Peter Symonds' Gifts to Charity

When Peter Symonds died, sometime between 1586 and 1587, he owned a lot of land in the South East of England. In his will, which is a legal document saying what happens to your property after you die, he left land to his wife. This land was in places like Chadwell and West Ham in Essex, and a farm in Shalford in Surrey.

After his wife passed away, Peter wanted a group of people, including his brother William, to build a special almshouse in Winchester. This almshouse was to be called Christ's Hospital. It was meant to provide homes for people in need. He also arranged for money to be given every year to help the poor in other areas, like London and Chadwell.

This almshouse in Winchester eventually grew and became Peter Symonds College. However, building it wasn't easy. There were some legal problems over Peter's land, which delayed the construction. A relative, Richard Symonds, tried to claim some of Peter's property, going against the will.

By the year 1600, the city of Winchester managed to get the land back. It's not clear exactly when the almshouse was finished, but it was being built in 1604 and was likely complete by 1607. In 1615, King James I officially approved the hospital, giving it legal status.