19. Carpenter's Row

In 1642, Anthony Carpenter, the owner of the Deanshanger Manor (now Dove House), founded a charity to distribute a sum of money every mid-Lent Sunday to 20 poor families in Deanshanger. The money was the income derived from the rents of seven cottages and two acres of land. By the early 19th century the cottages, had in effect become alms-houses and became known as Carpenter's Row. In 1823 the cottages were badly damaged by fire and four of the six had to be rebuilt for the sum of £428. Four of these, forming the block facing the village green remain, and bear the inscription:
CARPENTER'S
CHARITY HOUSES
BURNT AND REBUILT
A.D.
MDCCCXXIII