God's Gift in Dulwich

In 1592, Joan married Edward Alleyn, the leading actor of the day, who became Philip Henslowe's business partner.  In 1605 Alleyn bought the manor of Dulwich and later set up a charitable foundation consisting of chapel, almshouses and school as an act of thanksgiving to God for his talents as an actor and his ability in business.  The first building to be completed was Christ’s Chapel of God’s Gift, consecrated in 1616 by George Abbot, Archbishop of Canterbury.  Alleyn’s College of God’s Gift for 12 poor scholars and the almshouses for 6 poor brethren and 6 poor sisters were completed in 1618.   The buildings that exist today are the result of subsequent rebuilding in the early 18th century and enlargement in the 19th century.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Alleyn's Foundation still looms large today and the school has now developed into three top ranking independent schools and is managed by the Dulwich Estate who still own most of the freehold in the area. While there are many regulations about what you can and cannot do with your property if you live there, Dulwich Estate has maintained a very pleasant leafy area with a lot of open green spaces and has resisted much detrimental change.

 

Joan died aged 51 in 1623 and her husband Edward Alleyn died three years later.  Both are buried in Christ's Chapel, Dulwich.