Bishop Seth Ward Almshouse Trust

The Almshouses were built and occupied in 1684 and were originally called Ward's hospital.

They are situated at the southern end of the high street, next to St. Peter's church.

These eight dwellings are arranged as an open quadrangle, facing Market Hill, with a large garden at the rear. They were described as 'The stateliest Almshouses in the country,' by the architectural historian Nikolaus Pevsner, in his book The Buildings of England.

A generous legacy from Miss Adeline Saggers received in 1989 enabled the trustees to investigate updating the properties.

Major modernisation and refurbishment was carried outduring the 1990's with the addition of bathrooms, kitchens, rewiring, etc. with grants from East Herts District Council, English Heritage, Hertfordshire Preservation Trust and the Historic Buildings and Monument Commission totalling £101,455. The remaining balance of £70,000 was provided by the legacy and other funds built up by the trustees. The three cottages adjacent to the Almshouse property ( in Chapel End, Buntingford) were also donated to the Trust by Miss Saggers. In more recent years, a further legacy was made by Mrs. Joan Bailey, MBE, who also served as treasurer to the Trust. Further improvements were made during the 2000's with the addition of shower rooms, new central heating boiler and radiators plus a full redecoration of the building exterior.

The Almshouses and associated properties continue to be managed by a board of voluntary trustees of the Bishop Seth Ward Almshouse Trust.

The "Ward Freman" school opened in 1970. It was built on land belonging to the Freman family. (The first school in Buntingford was founded in the seventeenth century and was known as Buntingford Grammar School and the first benefactor was Elizabeth Freman. It's most famous pupil was Seth Ward. Buntingford's second schoool began life between the two world wars and combined the two namesakes. The school changed names again on September 1, 1999 to Freman College: a co-educational upper school and sixth form with academy status.)

The Community Centre, Luynes Rise, was built by Bovis Homes as a planning obligation. It was officially opened on 13th September, 1993, by Sir Bobby Charlton, CBE. It changed name to Seth Ward Community Centre in 2006. The Buntingford town council own the facility and run it for the people of Buntingford.

In 1948, Hertfordshire County Hall was gifted an oil-painted copy of a Seth Ward portrait, by John Greenhill. (The original remains in Salisbury Cathedral.) County Hall displayed the copy at the archive reading room until 2003, when it was decided it was in need of restoration. (The trustees then donated it to the Royal Society, who are best placed to carry out the restoration required.) A print of the portrait is currently hanging in the council chambers of the Manor House in Buntingford.