The elevation of the chapel is topped by a gabled bellcote with cinquefoil head and demi-shafts at the sides. The chapel windows all have diamond leaded panes and decorative metal cross bars. The Almshouse to the left has two storeys and a half basement. The a-symmetrical front has three bays.
ATTRACTIONS
Greenway Almshouse and Chapel
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John Greenway (c. 1460-1529) was a wealthy wool merchant from Tiverton. He is best known for his philanthropy and his surviving building works in the town, including the Greenway Chapel, the Greenway Porch, and the Greenway Almshouse.
Greenway was a devout Christian, and he used his wealth to support the church and to help the poor. In 1517, he founded the Greenway Chapel, which was originally built to house five men. The chapel is a fine example of late Perpendicular architecture, and it is still in use today.
Greenway also built the Greenway Porch at St Peter's Church in Tiverton. The porch is decorated with Greenway's coat of arms and with the arms of the Company of Merchant Adventurers and the Worshipful Company of Drapers.
In addition to his religious works, Greenway also founded the Greenway Almshouse in Gold Street, Tiverton. The almshouse was built to provide accommodation for the elderly and poor of the town. It is still in use today, and it is one of the oldest almshouses in England.
Greenway died in 1529 and was buried in the Greenway Chapel which he commisioned to be built at St Peter's. He is remembered as one of the most generous and charitable benefactors in the history of Tiverton.
John Greenway's memory is also kept alive through the Tiverton Almshouse Trust, which was founded in 1974 to manage the Greenway Almshouse and other almshouses in the town. The Trust provides accommodation and support to older people from Tiverton and the surrounding area.
Address
Greenway Almshouse and Chapel, Gold Street, Tiverton, Devon EX16 6QS
Historic Categorisations and Statutes
Statutory Heritage Listing
Grade: VIII* (Grade Eight Star). This indicates it is a "particularly important building of more than special interest." Only about 5.8% of listed buildings in England fall into this category.
List Entry Number: 1384759
Date First Listed: February 12, 1952
Significance: Protected as a rare and exceptionally rich example of early 16th-century Tudor architecture. It is noted for its highly decorative carved stone porch and the intricate "ships and symbols" friezes that reflect the maritime trade of its founder.
Local Designations
Tiverton Civic Society Blue Plaque: A blue plaque on the exterior details its founding by John Greenway, a wealthy wool merchant, and its status as one of Tiverton's oldest functioning charities.
Conservation Area: A centerpiece of the Tiverton Conservation Area, the almshouses form a significant historic cluster on Gold Street, representing the town's prosperity during the wool trade era.
Site Components & Heritage Records
The Chapel: Built in 1517, featuring a fine wagon roof and carved interior dedicated to St. Mary and St. John the Baptist.
The Almshouses: A row of dwellings originally built for poor men and their wives, largely rebuilt in 1840 but retaining the original 16th-century frontage and porch.
Historic Environment Record (HER): Indexed in the Devon & Dartmoor HER under ID MDV1346.
Chronology of Historic Uses
1517: Founded by John Greenway as a chapel and dwellings for "five poor men."
1731: Survived the "Great Fire" of Tiverton, which destroyed much of the surrounding town.
1840: Substantial rebuilding of the residential quarters behind the original historic façade to improve living conditions.
1910: Further restoration work carried out to preserve the intricate 16th-century stonework.
Current/Recent: Continues its original 500-year-old mission as sheltered housing/almshouses managed by the Tiverton Almshouse Trust.
Useful Links
St Peter's Church Detailing its Grade I listed architecture, 16th-century carvings, and historical significance as the site of the first "Wedding March" performance. It offers practical visitor information, including opening times, accessibility details, service schedules, and information on the church’s active community groups and charitable work.
