Stone’s Court, located in St Clement’s, is one of Oxford’s oldest listed buildings. Founded in 1700 by the Reverend William Stone, former Principal of New Inn Hall, it was Oxford’s first hospital for the poor and sick. Inspired by the suffering he witnessed during a smallpox epidemic, Stone left instructions in his will to establish a hospital that welcomed all in need—regardless of religion or background.

The hospital was built on land purchased in 1696, just outside Oxford’s city limits in St Clements. Stone’s Court stood out for its spirit of tolerance, with a founding principle that “none should be refused” as long as there was space. Later legacies, helped support residents through the centuries.

By the middle of the twentieth century, Stone’s Court had sadly fallen into serious disrepair. Concerned by the building’s condition, local residents of St Clement’s took action, protesting to Christ Church and appealing directly to the Trustees of the Oxford Municipal Charities. In April 1956, the Visitors of Stone’s Hospital formally approached the trustees, requesting that they consider taking over the administration of the almshouses.

After several years of discussions, a major change came in 1959, when the responsibility for Stone’s Court was officially passed to a new governing body: the Trustees of the City of Oxford Charities. For the first time, the trusteeship included representatives from the City Council, the University, and the Health Authority, ensuring a broader, more modern oversight.

This transition marked a new chapter for Stone’s Court. In the years that followed, efforts to expand and modernise the site saw the addition of two new buildings: the Parsons Building, completed in 1960, and Mary Duncan Court, added in 1964. These developments helped to secure the future of Stone’s Court as a place of care and community well into the modern era.