Passers-by would have paid little attention to the unremarkable 1970s semi, save noting that the front garden needed some attention.

But living in apparent thrift behind its net curtains in Whitstable was a pensioner of staggering wealth whose generosity is now set to help the lives of thousands.

Hilda Levi died in a care home in 2022, aged 98, and is buried in an unmarked grave in the town’s cemetery.

But it has just been revealed she left about £1.4 million in her will to support local causes.

However, none of the astonished recipients had any knowledge of the pensioner, whose life-altering gifts came “out of the blue”.

In fact, little is known about the generous benefactor who had a modest home in Seymour Avenue, Whitstable, but also rented a flat in London. It is understood she never married and had no children.

Her wealth came as a surprise to neighbour Carol Mott, who lives near to Miss Levi’s former home, which was sold last year for £280,000.

“We haven’t seen her for some years and the house appeared pretty much abandoned, “ she said.

“But previously Miss Levi would come down to Whitstable from London every couple of months or so for a few days.

“We would just say hello and chat briefly if we bumped into each other in the street. She kept herself to herself.

“One time, she asked my husband to try and sort out a plumbing problem. When he went in, the place was like a time warp, like something from the 1950s.

“The garden became hugely overgrown too and a local councillor even got involved to help sort it out because there were complaints.

“Judging by appearances, you would have never guessed she was so wealthy but it’s nice to know that she ultimately left her money to so many good causes.”

Miss Levi’s will was written in 1982 and validated at the time through former Whitstable solicitors E A Barton, which later merged with Furley Page in Canterbury.

The firm says it was notified of her death in 2022 by a local authority and was subsequently appointed executor to distribute her estate to the benefactors.

Among them was the League of Friends of the Kent and Canterbury Hospital, which has received £500,000.

The same amount was left to Age UK in the hope it would help the local branch, while Moorfields Eye Hospital in London and the Friends of Whitstable Healthcare were each bequeathed £200,000.

“It’s a huge amount of money for us and the biggest ever legacy gift in our 70-year history,” said Louise Coleman, the chairman of the Friends of the K&C.

“Contrary to the norm, the League of Friends was informed at the end of the process, not the beginning, and the money has already been paid into the bank.

“This in turn has meant that we were able to approve two very large purchases for the hospital - an ophthalmology laser system and a urodynamics machine to a sum just short of £100,000.

“We didn’t know of Hilda, but her generosity will greatly improve treatment for patients.”

The Friends of Whitstable Healthcare will use its donation to buy a new X-ray machine for the Estuary View Medical Centre.

“We have no idea who Miss Levi was but her generosity will bring huge benefits to patients,” said chairman Georgina Baker.

“We are extremely grateful for her gift, which is amazing and a massive help to a charity like ours.”

Chief officer of Age UK Herne Bay and Whitstable, Linda Cowdry says the charity was stunned to hear about the legacy set to benefit the branch.

"I’m working with Age UK National to make a claim via their legacy protocol so we can access Hilda's legacy,” she said.

“I will be notified as to the outcome after their next meeting to consider applications on April 2nd.

“I'm hopeful we will receive a lasting legacy that will have a big impact on local service provision for older people in Whitstable.

“All charities are facing challenging times and this legacy will make a big difference to us."

Included in Miss Levi’s requests was to be buried in Whitstable Cemetery, where she had reserved a plot.

But a visit to the cemetery this week revealed somebody else interred there.

It is now understood that Miss Levi bought the grave for Ellen Nora Jeffrey, who died in 1980 aged 95, although KentOnline has not been able to establish the relationship between them.

Miss Levi also stipulated in her will that she be buried in the same plot, and Canterbury City Council has confirmed her internment in the same grave did take place, on February 16, 2022, although there is still no inscription indicating she rests there.

Miss Levi died in a Jewish care home in Prescott, Manchester, which KentOnline has asked to help with any more information about the woman whose generosity will be appreciated for many years to come.