126 BOROUGH OF LEWISHAM. 
be built forthwith. The exact arrangement of the houses round 
two sides of a yard, as detailed above, was evidently not considered 
advisable, and as the Governors added a sixth house themselves, a 
plan was approved with the little chapel in the centre and three 
houses on either side, as we see them to-day. 
Over the chapel door is a shield containing the Arms of the 
Founder together with those of the Leathersellers’ Company. 
There is also the following inscription :— 
AN'O DECIMO SEXTO CAROLI 2” AN’0Q; D.N.J. 1664 1HE GIFT OF 
MR. ABRAHAM COLFE LATE VICAR OF THIS PARISH WHEREOF THE 
COMPANY OF LEATHERSELLERS IN LONDON, ARE, ACCORDING TO 
THE DESIRE OF HIS WILL, BY ACT OF PARLIAMENT, APPOINTED 
GOVERNORS; AND BY THE SAID COMPANY THE SAME GIFT IS 
ENLARGED. 
The designs for the almshouses were prepared by a Mr. Peter 
Mills, to whom in 1665 a sum of £5 Ios. was paid for drawing 
‘“several platformes [z.e., plans] for the said building.” The 
building was entrusted to Mr. Botsford, carpenter, and a sum of 
Ios. was expended in 1663 ‘‘ fora platforme of the Alms Howses’’ 
for his use. The cost of the actual building is entered in the 
Leathersellers’ accounts as follows :— 
1663-4. Payd unto Mr. Botsford, carpenter, in parte of what is 
agreed for building of Mr. Calfes Almeshowses ie #170 
Item, spentt at severall meetings of the Committee about 
the said Almes Howses and treating with severall workmen 
about building them oe 51s 
Item, payd vnto certaine paricenee, of Grecaeaeh aa 
Lewisham that came from thense about the saide worke for 
theire paines and time attending therevppon ... og Eig 40s 
1664-5 Paid Mr Botsford the carpenter in further parte of what 
is agreed for building Mr Calfes Almes Howses ... £85 
1665-6 Paid Mr Botsford ponies Pee for Pelee Alms- 
houses.. ; £65 
1667-8 Paid vnto Mr WwW ‘lliams eee of the readiug seubell 
which was by him laid out for the reading deske ‘and seats 
about the chappell at Lewisham.. a 4c s ie 47S 
The total cost of the building was therefore a little over £330- 
One of the first occupants, and so named in Mr. Colfe’s will, was 
his old and trusty servant, Christian Padmore, and she continued 
to live therein until her death in 1667-8, when there is an entry in. 
the accounts :— 
Paid by order of Court unto Margaret Smith sister of 
Christian Padmore towards her buriall... aa aa ap 10S 
In 1700 Matthew Jennings, the tailor, was paid 17s. for 
making ‘‘ five gownes and a coat for Lewisham Almes people,” 
no doubt according to the Founder’s directions. About this time 
