sentences:  These timber framed dwellings which date from the 17th century have oversailing upper stories, a common feature of the period, which had the advantage of increasing the space of a small land site.The brick-built cottages to the left of the picture (just visible) are almshouses belonging to the Thomas Hickman charity.Thomas Hickman was a resident of Aylesbury in the 17th century who left money in his will to provide money for dwellings for the old and infirm.