Following the success of the previous Award Schemes begun in 1979 to celebrate the city’s 1900th anniversary, Chester City Council, Cheshire Society of Architects and Chester Civic Trust agreed to sponsor the 6th Civic Awards for Architecture and Conservation in the Millennium Year.

The aim of the Civic Awards is to stimulate interest and recognise good design and sympathetic conservation within the boundaries of the Chester District.

A total of 25 nominations for 22 projects were received from owners, architects, contractors and members of the public. The Assessors considered that five projects merited Commendations and that three schemes merit Plaque Awards.

The three Plaque Awards went to

Bull’s Cottage, High Street, Tarvin,
Chester Scout Headquarters, Old Port, Chester
Dixons Almshouses, Christleton.

Owners: The Order of Malta Homes Trust
Architect: The Bernard Taylor Partnership
Contractor: Paul Eastwood Ltd.

The Assessors report on the Dixons Almhouses said

Previously on the "Buildings at Risk" Register, this Grade II building has been repaired and restored to a high standard. Extensive internal alterations have also been made in a sensitive way to bring the building up to current housing standards for the elderly. Still in its original use, the building occupies and important position in the village adjacent to the recently enhanced pond. Owing to the evident enthusiasm of all those concerned in the project, the future of this fine building is assured.

Dixon’s Almshouses at Christleton were built in 1867-8 to provide homes for poor and needy people of the parish. This much admired local landmark was commissioned by Mrs Mary Anne Dixon of Littleton Old Hall in memory of her son James who died in 1866 aged 30. The elegant timed framed building which has a grade II listing was designed by John Oldrid Scott, son of the more famous architect Sir George Gilbert Scott who was responsible for the repair and rebuilding of Chester Cathedral.
The Almshouses are in the care of The Order of Malta Homes Trust who manage a nationwide network of almshouses and residential homes. Day-to-day supervision is in the hands of local people under the chairmanship of the rector of the Parish of St. James

The Sponsons who supported the restoring of the Dixon’s Almshouses were
The Almshouses Association
The Almshouses Trustees
Smith Charity
Chester Council
English Heritage

THE DIXONS OF LITTLETON

James Dixon, husband of Mary Anne (the benefactress of the Dixon’s Almshouses), was the youngest of the three sons of Thomas Dixon (1755-1811), a Chester timber merchant who lived at Littleton Hall, Littleton, one of the five townships which made up Christleton Parish.
James followed his father into the timber trade, owned property in Christleton and Chesterm and was also involved in shipbuilding in the city. The Port of Chester was active at this time in importing timber from Lithuania and Sweden and had 14 shipyards.

The eldest of the brothers, Thomas, not only ran the family timber business but also became a banker, founding the Dixon & Chilton Bank in Chester in 1817. The bank later became the Dixon & Wardell Bank, the Chester Bank (Dixon & Co.), Parrs Bank, the Westminster Bank and finally in 1998 a branch of the National Westminster Bank.

Thomas was a worshipper at Christleton Church and a plaque was placed in the church by grateful parishioners as a testimonial to "the great interest taken by him in all matters relating to the church".
He also played a significant part in the life of Chester and, at various times, filled the roles of Sheriff, Councillor, Alderman and Mayor. He was also a Justice of the Peace and a magistrate.
The third brother, William, lived in North Wales, but he, like the other members of the family, was buried at Christleton where there are graves and a family tomb in the churchyard.