William Hurst

William Hurst (by 1484-1568), of Exeter, Devon, was an English merchant and Member of Parliament (MP). Hurst was a bailiff of the City of Exeter in 1512 and 1522.

He was a Member of the Parliament of England for Exeter in 1539, 1542 and 1545.

Almshouses

In his will (of 1552), Hurst gave six tenement houses in the Parish of Alhallows on the Walls, and a further six tenements on St Mary Arches, for the use of poor people.

The site of the almshouses was later used for the Devon and Exeter Subscription Rooms, and were demolished in 1819, being replaced by twelve new almshouses in Belgrave Road. There were arguments at the city council as to whether Hurst had the right to endow the almshouses in perpetuity.