Last week, our CEO Helen Gore met Benjamin Wiggin, who is the great great grandson of Lady Mary Wiggin.
It was Lady Mary who laid the commemoration stone on 8th May, 1899 at Wiggin Cottage Homes in Harbourne. Her husband, Sir Henry Wiggin, donated six cottages to provide housing for aged and infirm residents of Harborne and the surrounding district. In 1900, Sir Henry further endowed the homes with £2,000 to support their maintenance and to provide a weekly stipend of 5 shillings to each resident. The charity Wiggin Cottage Homes was established which owns the six almshouses and lets them to residents. Lettings are means-tested, and the charity’s primary focus is to provide accommodation for elderly individuals, preferably those residing in Harborne or the nearby area.
Today the cottages are part of BCOP’s independent living housing schemes. Each one-bedroom cottage offers a peaceful environment for residents aged 55 and over, featuring a Careline alarm service and set in lovely landscaped gardens.
The legacy of Sir Henry Wiggin’s philanthropy continues to benefit the community over a century later, providing secure and supportive housing for older residents in Birmingham.
