WH Saunders & Frank Wareham Charity

After many years of consultation WH Saunders & Wareham Cottage Homes merged in a new Scheme in April 2022 and the charity is now known as WH Saunders & Frank Wareham Charity.

The objects are of course still in keeping with the original Schemes and are:

Providing social housing in the form of almshouse accommodation for people who are in need, hardship or distress and are resident in Dorset and Hampshire with a preference for those who are over 60 years of age.

WH Saunders Charity

Saunders Homes of Rest were built in 1908 in Bournemouth by WH Saunders for persons of over 60 years of age who had been resident in the local area. They consisted of 6 two-bedroom houses with spacious gardens. A trust was created by the founder in 1908.

Over the years the buildings became tired and were in desperate need of refurbishment. In 2006 Bournemouth Borough Council offered to make a grant for this purpose and the opportunity was taken to convert four of the dwelling houses into one-bedroom flats. As a result the building was altered to provide ten units of accommodation. The Trustees had to borrow to meet the on-costs and other expenses and the refurbishment was completed in the latter part of 2008.

The gardens were extensive and the Trustees next sought to develop these. Plans were prepared and a grant was given by the Homes and Community Agency to erect six self-contained properties, which were completed by the end of 2010. The new build has been named ‘Joan Vaughan Cottages’, in memory of a former Trustee who did so much to provide management of the almshouses. There are now 16 homes in this location.