About us

Pickering and Ferens Homes is a Registered Social Housing Provider (A4020), a registered charity (No 1014862) and a member of the National Almshouse Association (No 981).

Our registered office is 7 Beacon Way, Hull, HU3 4AE.

We own and manage nearly 1400 properties, located within Kingston-upon-Hull and the East Riding of Yorkshire.

Our origins lay with the philanthropic activities of 2 prominent Hull businessmen – Christopher Pickering and Thomas Ferens.

In 1910, Christopher Pickering donated £6,300 for the construction of 12 almshouses (Pickering Crescent) to be built in west Hull. He also donated land and money for the construction of Pickering Park along Hessle Road where the almshouses are situated. These buildings were constructed to house ex-fishermen and were managed and maintained by Hull City Council. In 1919 and 1955 a further twelve almshouses were built. In 1978/9, Hull City Council obtained Housing Association status in connection with these almshouses.

Ferens Haven of Rest was also developed on the east side of the city. Thomas Ferens was responsible for the conception of the charity when he built 12 almshouses in 1912. These were donated to Hull City Council to be administered as a Trust under the Ferens Haven of Rest (now known as Ferens Haven). The Trust went on to develop more properties at Staveley Road, Babington Row, Barham Road and Holderness Road.

The two Trusts formally merged on the 2nd September 1992 and became ‘Pickering and Ferens Homes’ Almshouse Charity. We are now also a Regulator for Social Housing Registered Provider, also described as a housing association.

In line with our charitable objectives, we provide accommodation and services predominantly for residents aged over 60 years old with a particular social value emphasis on health and wellbeing in later life.