Sir Gabriel Wood's Mariners' Asylum

File:Sir Gabriel Woods Mariner's Home - geograph.org.uk - 559683.jpgFile:Sir Gabriel Wood's Mariner's Asylum, Grennock, Renfrew, Scot Wellcome V0012713.jpgSir Gabriel Wood's Mariners' Asylum is a facility in Greenock, Scotland which opened 17 October. 1854. It was built to house and care for aged and impoverished seamen belonging to the counties of Renfrewshire (historic), Ayrshire, Dunbartonshire, Argyll, and County of Bute.{{cite book |last1=Smith |first1=Robert Murray |title=The History of Greenock |date=1921 |publisher=Orr, Pollock |page=342 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=NETFAAAAMAAJ}}{{cite book |last1=Groome |first1=Francis Hindes |title=Ordnance Gazetteer of Scotland: A Graphic and Accurate Description of Every Place in Scotland |date=1901 |publisher=T. C. and E. C. Jack |location=Scotland |page=785}}{{cite web |title=Sir Gabriel Wood's Mariners' Home |url=https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/2621624 |website=geograph.org.uk |access-date=21 February 2024}} Its founder, Sir Gabriel Wood (1767–1845), served as Vice-Consul for the state of Maryland and later as Commissary-General of Accounts for the Caribbean, then of the Mediterranean, and finally of Canada.{{cite web |title=Clan Wood Society |url=https://www.clan-woodsociety.co.uk/famouswoods.html |website=clan-woodsociety.co.uk |access-date=20 February 2024}} He bequeathed his entire estate to his wife Louisa Augusta and his sister Francis Ann Wood.{{cite book |title=Smith |page=342-343}} A memorandum instructed them to establish a home providing for the care of local destitute seamen.{{cite web |title=History of Sir Gabriel Wood’s Mariners’ Asylum |url=https://secure.toolkitfiles.co.uk/clients/21599/sitedata/files/history-5.pdf |website=toolkitfiles.co.uk |access-date=20 February 2024}} Sir Gabriel Wood's Mariners' Asylum was included in the 1861 United Kingdom census. At that time, there were forty-five former mariners and seamen residing there with ages ranging from 58 to 84 years old. The staff included the Governor of the Institution, Adam MacKay, a matron, a housekeeper, a laundress, and two servants.{{cite book |title=Scotland Census, 1861 |publisher=PRO RG 9, The National Archives UK, Kew, Surrey.}} In November 2020, inspections by Care Inspectorate (Scotland) identified several deficiencies in the care being provided. The Trustees of the Sailors' Society who owned the facility decided to close the home. As reasons, they cited increased pressures resulting from the Covid-19 pandemic, and lack of resources to uphold the standards they set for the home.{{cite web |title=CLOSURE Of Historic Greenock Maritime Care Home Announced Just Days After Critical Report Published |url=https://www.inverclydenow.com/closure-of-historic-greenock-maritime-care-home-announced-just-days-after-critical-report-published/ |website=inverclydenow.com |access-date=20 February 2024}} In March of 2022, the property was sold to Torah Capital Limited, a London company.{{cite web |title=London firm buys Sir Gabriel Wood's Mariners' Home |url=https://www.greenocktelegraph.co.uk/news/19985735.london-firm-buys-sir-gabriel-woods-mariners-home/ |website=greenocktelegraph.co.uk |publisher=Greenock Telegraph}}