The Frances Willmer McAulay Memorial Cottages in Alyseby
The Francis Wilmer McAulay Memorial Cottages have sat at the heart of Aylesby village in North East Lincolnshire since 1920. They are Grade 2 listed Almshouses which have provided a home to many people over the past one hundred years. But as well as being architecturally interesting and known as home to their residents, they also commemorate the life of a young solider killed in action during World War One.
This website is the story of the Almshouses themselves and that young solider, his family and their legacy. Jump into the story here or scroll down…
Francis Willmer McAulay. The story about the man himself. Born in 1891 to an Aylesby family; educated in Cambridge and keen to serve his country. He died in 1916 in France during World War I.
A Family and a village. The McAulay family had a long relationship with the village of Aylesby. The story of the family and of Aylesby itself from Francis Sowerby over a hundred years before the cottages were built.
In Memory of. Exploring the memorials and memories after the death of Francis Willmer McAulay before the cottages were constructed. A village remembers a lost son.
Building the cottages. The decision to build and how the construction happened a hundred years ago to commemorate the memory of Francis Willmer McAulay.
Of architectural interest. Not just homes, the memorial cottages are fine, grade 2 listed buildings with quite a reputation at the time.
A century of evolution. How the buildings have changed over the century; how they are now and stories of living in them.
About Almshouses. What exactly do we mean by Almshouses?
Follow the story through our website or have a read about this project itself.
If you know something we’re missing from this site, then we’ll always be glad to hear from you.
We don’t have a news blog on this website – instead, it can be found on our interactive, local history discussions website here.