Eccentric behind those 'Tudor' chimneys

This curious building deserves a closer look. The building was founded by one of Seaford's great philanthropists, John Purcell Fitzgerald (1803-1879) and as well as the chimneys, is decorated with a curious coat-of-arms.

John is an interesting, if eccentric person. His brother Edward, the famous Victorian poet and the translator of The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam, said of him, 'He was a man you could really love '“ at two-and-three-quarter miles away'!

John was born to rich parents on the family estate at Boulge near Ipswich. His mother was Mary Fitzgerald who had inherited huge estates near Waterford in Ireland, Staffordshire, Middlesex and Northamptonshire (including the site of the Battle of Naseby). She was one of the richest women in Britain. She could speak four languages and was proud of her ancestry, which she could trace back to pre-conquest times. She hardly saw her young children, visiting them once a fortnight and even when they were older she said that she got on well with them by 'meeting them very little'!

John's father, also John, was a lawyer but (presumably due to his wife's wealth) did not practice. He was closely related to his wife (a family tradition that probably caused the eccentricity throughout the family).

John Senior had aspirations of a political career and in 1823 purchased Corsica Hall in Seaford and began to buy local land. As Seaford was a 'rotten borough' he succeeded in becoming an MP for the town three years later.

John Purcell Fitzgerald followed his father to Seaford. When he was younger he wanted to be a clergyman but he was prevented due to 'brain-fever'. However, he did write many religious tracts and the titles give some indication as to his politics. These included The Duty of Procuring More Rest for the Labouring Classes and Christian Slaveholders are Disobedient to Christ.

He shared his time between the family estate in Suffolk and Seaford, but in both places was known for his good work among the poor. On his birthday he invited pensioners to dinner and distributed clothes to the poor. He was concerned that married couples who fell upon hard times were separated when they were admitted to the workhouse. This he said was 'contrary to the letter of Christ's Gospel'. In 1858 he acted by founding almshouses in Seaford, where married couples could live together. These almshouses were small cottages but he later put his money into a more substantial building in Croft Lane.

The first stone of the new building was laid by him in 1864. The building is of red brick and, so that everyone was aware of who was responsible for this generous donation, the Fitzgerald coat-of-arms was placed not once but twice facing the road. These can still be seen although they are getting a little weathered.

The arms show a diagonal saltire (cross) surmounted by a monkey and a hand holding a sword. The monkey was part of the Fitzgerald coat-of-arms and is rarely seen in heraldry. It is said that the monkey was a family pet who once warned the family of a fire in their house. The hand carrying the sword is from the Purcell coat-of-arms. On either side of the shield you can still make out the Fitzgerald family motto 'Crom Aboo.' Crom was an ancient Irish fortress once owned by the family and Aboo was their battlecry.

Although luxurious in their day, the basic facilities (including just one bath) remained until 1964 when the building was renovated. Each of the units now has a fitted kitchen and bathroom. The legacy of John Purcell Fitzgerald's generosity remains today as his almshouses are still in use providing comfortable accommodation for Seaford pensioners.

KEVIN GORDON