George Slee


George Slee of the Great House, Peter Street, Tiverton, Devon, was a wealthy wool merchant and clothier. He founded Slee's Almshouses in Tiverton, the building of which survives next to the Great House in Peter Street. His ornate chest tomb survives in St Peter's Church, Tiverton.

Career

He manufactured and exported the famous Tiverton kerseys.

Marriage and children

On 10 August 1581 he married Joan Chilcot, a sister of Robert Chilcot of Tiverton, merchant, founder of Chilcot's School, in Peter Street, Tiverton. Joan Chilcot's mother was Eleanor Blundell, a sister of the eminent Tiverton merchant Peter Blundell, founder of Blundell's School. Slee was one of the executors of Peter Blundell's will and was one of the founding feoffees of Blundell's School.
By his wife he had 7 children, including Roger Slee.

Founds almshouses

Slee's Almshouses were founded by George Slee in 1610 and were built posthumously in 1613 in accordance with the instructions in his will. He bequeathed £500 for the purpose and directed that they should be "for six poore aged woemen to dwell in". The women were to be aged at least "three score years", and were to be nominated by his wife Joan, and following her death by Churchwardens of St Peter's Church in Tiverton. The six women were to be "of honest name and fame" and for their maintenance received 12 pence per week payable on Saturdays. The Almshouses are described by Martin Dunsford in his 1790 work Historical Memoirs of the Town and Parish of Tiverton.
A tripartite indenture was made on 19 July 1625,m summarised as follows:

Death & will

George Slee made 44 cash bequests in his will, totalling £4,120, including many to the poor.. In his will he also dealt with his many landholdings in the parishes of Tiverton, Coldridge, Uplowman and Halberton.

Monument

The chest tomb of George Slee survives in St Peter's Church, Tiverton. The sides of the chest tomb are decorated with strapwork panels, and Caryatids. The thick marble ledger stone on top is deeply inscribed in Gothic lettering as follows: