Shee Alms House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Shee Alms House |
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Shee Almshouse in 2007
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| Location | |
| Location | Rose Inn Street, Kilkenny, Ireland |
 Location in Ireland
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| Architecture | |
| Architectural style | Tudor |
| Founder | Sir Richard Shee |
| Completed | 1582 |
The Shee Alms House is a very old building in Kilkenny, Ireland. It was built in 1582 by the Shee family. An "almshouse" is a special building that provides housing for people who are poor. The Shee Alms House was made to help twelve people. It is an important example of a Tudor period building in Ireland.
Contents
History of the Shee Alms House
Who Built the Almshouse?
Sir Richard Shee started the almshouse. He was part of the powerful Shee merchant family in Kilkenny. They were important traders in the city. Sir Richard first called the building the Hospital of Jesus. He finished building it in 1582.
How the Almshouse Was Supported
Sir Richard Shee left money and property for the almshouse in his will in 1603. This money was meant to help the poor people living there. His son, Lucas Shee, got a special document called a royal charter for the almshouse. This charter was granted on November 4, 1609. A royal charter is like an official permission from the king or queen. It gave the almshouse legal rights and protection.
Changes Over Time
The Shee family lost control of the house for a while. This happened during the time of Cromwell. Cromwell was a powerful leader who changed Ireland a lot. But the Shee family got the house back in the 1700s. Sir Nicholas Power O'Shee took ownership again in 1756. The building continued to be an almshouse until 1830.
Over the years, the Shee Alms House was used for different things.
- Before the 1800s, it was sometimes a Catholic chapel.
- In 1837, it was used as a hospital.
- In the early 1900s, it became a shop.
Restoration and New Purpose
In 1978, the Kilkenny Corporation bought the Alms House. They worked to fix it up and make it look like it did originally. The building was reopened in 1981. Today, it serves as the city's tourist office. This means it's a place where visitors can get information about Kilkenny.
What the Building Looks Like
The Shee Alms House is made of stone. It has two main floors and an attic with windows that stick out from the roof. It has special cut-limestone details around the windows and doors.
