Ramsey Court

Elias Davy was a wealthy trader in luxury fabrics. Married twice, he had a son who died in infancy, and a daughter who married John Derby, Citizen of London and member of the Drapers' Company. Davy lived in the City of London near the church of St. Michael Bassishaw; he held the Manor of Acton for a period, and traded extensively including in Bruges, Belgium. He died on 4 December 1455 and was buried in Croydon Parish Church of St John the Baptist (q.v), now Croydon Minster. In accordance with his wishes, this date is remembered by the Elis David Almshouses Residents and Directors with a service in the church on his Years Mynde – the medieval anniversary of death; the Mynde Day Service. Mis-transcription of Elias Davy's name over the years led to the almshouses he founded becoming the Elis David Almshouses.

In 1443 Davy had purchased a piece of land called “Delles” near Croydon Parish Church, a marshy area with the river Wandle running through it. He drained the land and built his almshouses here for eight people of either sex, together with four cottages, orchards and gardens. He endowed the almshouses with land and property and gave instructions to increase the holdings over the years. The Ordinances were signed on 27 April 1447 (celebrated as Founders' Day by Elis David Almshouses Residents and Directors); they were founded in perpetuity and intended to be a community of prayer and care. Six of the pensioners were to receive 10d a week and the seventh, the tutor, 1s. The almshouses were endowed with £18 per annum for repairs from the rents of four neighbouring cottages. The Vicar and churchwardens of Croydon Parish Church and 'four of the principal inhabitants of Croydon' were appointed governors. Davy required that the clothes of the residents be 'darke and browne of colour, and not staring, neither blazing, and of easy price cloth, according to their degree', they were to attend daily services in the parish church and pray for the King and the founder.

The almshouse building was enlarged for 12 people in 1875, and a new wing of almost matching appearance was added in 1887. With the growth and development of Croydon, the almshouses required further extension but this was not possible on the original site. As a result the property was given to Croydon Council in return for a site on Duppas Hill Terrace. The original almshouses are now known as Ramsey Court; a plaque was unveiled on the building by the Master of the Mercers’ Company Mr Simon Wathen on 27 April 2014. 

The new Elis David Almshouses at Duppas Hill Terrace were built in 1974 to house 80 residents, and were opened in March 1975 by HRH Princess Alexandra; in 1979 they joined the Almshouse Association. The Vicar of Croydon and the Churchwardens of Croydon Minster, together with a member of the Mercers’ Company, are on the Board of Directors and they are administered by Croydon Almshouse Charities, which also manages Mary Tate's Almshouses (q.v.) in Mitcham.