Of the Almshouses in Taunton, only two of them are at present endowed.  Of these, the largest is that founded by Robert Gray Esq., and is situated at East Gate.  It is in length 130 feet, having, besides the chapel and school room, seventeen apartments, with a small garden belonging to each.  On the front of the house are two coats of arms; one of the founder, viz., Barry of six pieces, argent and azure; one bend, gules, three annulets, or.  The other of the Merchant Taylors Company in London, of which he was a member.  

The following inscription, on a stone in the front of the building, records the commencement of this charitable institution, and the general design of the founder:  "Laus Deo.  This charitable work is founded by Robert Graye of the citie of London , esquire borne in this towne, in the house adjoining hereunto, who in his life time doth erect it for tenne poore, aged single women; and for their competent livelihood, and daylie prayers in the same, provided sufficient maintenace for the same. 1635."  

The nature of the maintenance, and the extent to which the charity was afterwards carried, are represented on the tablet set up in the church in the year 1751. It relates that Robert Gray, of London, merchant, gave to the parish of St. Mary Magdalene, an almshouse for six poor men and a reader, and ten poor women, with a house, orchard and garden adjoining to the said almshouse; and also £2000 to be laid out in land fee-simple, the profits thereof to be paid to the poor persons by 8's to each person the first Monday monthly, and a gown every three years; and also enjoined the said reader (who, in the decree of chancery, is styled chaplain or schoolmaster) to teach ten poor children to read and write.  

Mr. Gray, in his own lifetime, besides having purchased the ground for his almshouse, and erected the chapel and the apartments for the women and the reader, had also named his trustees, but as he died before his will was perfected and executors appointed, the heir at law took to his estate; this led Mr. Richard Moggridge, at that time mayor of Taunton, to make an application to chancery, to have that part of Mr. Gray's will which related to the finishing and endowment of his alms-house in this town, carried into full effect.  Accordingly (as the Merchant whom Mr. Gray left the government of account of the distance and because be allowed for the trouble of the trust) the alms-house was settled.

To them was paid £2000 for the purpose of purchasing lands; the neat rent of which and, in the mean time, the interest of the monies, were wholly to be applied to the support of the foundation.  The number of trustees is twenty who, from the produce of the money, partly laid out in lands, and partly invested on government and other securities, fulfill the will of the donor as far as relates to the support of the house, the payment of the pensions, and teaching the children to read.  When by death the number of trustees is reduced to eight, those surviving trustees are empowered and enjoined to elect twelve others.  

The above particulars were communicated by Mr. John Way, from a copy of the decree of chancery.  Mr. Gray, it appears from a copy of his will, in Mr. Way's possession, left £200 to the town of Beverley, in Yorkshire, upon condition to pay the same county £6 yearly for ever, to the relief of the poor of the same town payable yearly at the fair holden in that town; and that the town of Beverley should give security to the town of Holden for the performance of the yearly payments of the £6 for ever.  

He also bequeathed to the right worshipful company of Merchant Taylors, in London, £1000 that they should ever pay to 12 poor alms-women, living in the alms-house newly erected in or near East Smithfield, in London, 8s a-piece monthly, the first Monday of every month; and should also give every third year, to every of these alms-women, a good cloth gown, at the price of 9s per yard at least; the same cloth to be of a good sad new color, with a cognizance of silver of his arms, as they then had.  Among other legacies, Mr. Gray left to the Merchant Taylors Company, for a dinner on the day of his funeral, £4O to his parishioners, £200 for a dinner for them and their wives on the day of his funeral, to his workfolks, the calendars and cottoners, £60 for a dinner on the day of his funeral, for them and their wives; and to his other workmen, £13.6s.8d.  

In 1735, a charitable commission, which was obtained for making enquiries into the management of this and other charities, in the county of Somerset , brought on against Mr. Gray's trustees, a suit in chancery, which expended £200 of their fund.  The loss that the original stock thus incurred was, to a great degree, made good by the generosity of Mr. John Noble, merchant of Bristol, and Mr. John Coles, fuller, both natives of Taunton, and last a resident in it; the former of whom endowed this charitable institution with £100 and the other with £50. (See tablet in Gray's Chapel).  

In the 1960s the Trustees of Gray's Almshouses handed over the control and administration to the Trustees of Taunton Town Charity who are responsible for all the almshouses in Taunton.  In 1989 a complete refurbishment program was carried out with the assistance of grants from The Housing Corporation and English Heritage.  

Gray's Almshouses now provide sheltered accommodation for the elderly comprising 5 single and 3 double flats together with a Warden's flat, the original chapel, a community room and a laundry room.  All are fully modernized with the exception of the chapel which has been retained as near as possible in its original form.

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