Switzer's Asylum also known as Saint James Asylum was founded by
James Switzer of
Kilkenny
Kilkenny (). is a city in County Kilkenny, Ireland. It is located in the South-East Region and in the province of Leinster. It is built on both banks of the River Nore. The 2016 census gave the total population of Kilkenny as 26,512.
Kilken ...
in the 1800s for the housing of twenty poor widows.
Asylum
The asylum was founded with the aim of housing twelve Protestant and eight Roman Catholic widows in the units with an additional sum of twenty pounds per year. Today Switzer's Asylum is nineteen units managed by the
Church of Ireland
The Church of Ireland ( ga, Eaglais na hÉireann, ; sco, label= Ulster-Scots, Kirk o Airlann, ) is a Christian church in Ireland and an autonomous province of the Anglican Communion. It is organised on an all-Ireland basis and is the second ...
in St Patrick’s Parish, Kilkenny.
The foundation was established by Act of Parliament which identified who would be entitled to be resident in the units. No one who had ever been a servant, the widow, daughter or niece of a servant could be allowed there.
The rule was to allow
Building
The building is a detached almshouse with five three-bays, two-storey high units with a single three bay two storey breakfront. The units are set in a small cul-de-sac of private grounds with a limestone surrounding wall. There is a monument at the front of the building which is a statue by
Benjamin Schrowder of Dublin of the founder. It has classically derived proportions though modern renovations have eroded some of the character. It was built in the beginning of the 1800s with work completed about 1803 or 1804. It was renovated in 1992.
Founder
James Switzer was a native of Kilkenny and worked as the building contractor on the
Kilkenny City Military Barracks. He used some of the left over building materials of the barracks to complete the Almshouse.
See also
*
List of almshouses in Ireland
The following is a list of Irish almshouses, also known as ''Gift Houses'':
Leinster
*Dublin - Clondalkin almshouses
*Dublin - Stillorgan (Charles Sheils houses - now demolished)
*Shee Alms House, Kilkenny
*Switzer's Asylum, Kilkenny
*Various D ...
References
{{reflist
Charities based in Ireland
Almshouses in Ireland