In 1665 William Cleave left all his Kingston assets "for the erecting and building of a convenient house for six poor men and six poor women, of honest life and reputation." The result was Cleave's Almshouses, a terrace of 12 little cottages and a meeting hall, completed in London Road in 1670, and now one of the oldest brick buildings in the Royal borough.

Cleave wanted his provision to continue "for ever", and successive trustees have worked hard to ensure that it does. By 1994, following various extensions and refurbishments, the original accommodation for 12 had been increased to 22. Now the building of Audric House has provided a further six places.

The new development will be officially opened tomorrow (Thursday) by the Mayor of Kingston, Councillor Ed Naylor. It comprises four one-person flats and a house for a married couple, and has been named in memory of Miss Blanche Audric. She taught music at Kingston's Latchmere School for many years, and on her death in 1991 left a bequest which enabled Cleave's Almshouses to buy an adjoining quarter-acre plot.

The project was delayed by long negotiations with Kingston planning department and a gap in funding that was eventually filled by grants from the council, Richmond Churches Housing Association and the Housing Corporation, plus £50,000 from an anonymous donor.

The new building will be blessed by the vicar of Kingston, the Rev Jim Bates, one of Miss Audric's former pupils.

"She was a great character, fond of walking from Kingston to Brighton at holiday times," he recalled. "But she didn't like me, and sent me out of the classroom so often she hardly taught me at all!"

jsampson@london.newsquest.co.uk