The Mediæval Hospitals of England

Name: The Mediæval Hospitals of England
Author: Clay, Rotha Mary

Clay, Rotha Mary

Charities -- Great Britain; Hospitals -- Great Britain; Hospitals, Medieval; Leprosy -- England

Of the latter, some were grants on account of a vacant bishopric.
In addition to the above, sums were given to [p180] _leprosi_ of
Southampton and Peterborough, and to hospitals of Gravesend, of
Norwich, and “of the Queen.” These contributions vary from 12_d._
paid to Hereford up to £6 given to Hecham (Higham Ferrers). In some
cases corn and clothing were also contributed. There is a contemporary
representation of one of these “infirm” persons on the seal of the
lepers of Lincoln, dating from the days of Henry II and St. Hugh. The
document to which it is attached contains a covenant between Bullington
Priory and the hospital of the Holy Innocents, Lincoln, concerning a
rent of three shillings from the hospital.

[Illustration: 27. DOCUMENT AND SEAL OF THE LEPERS OF LINCOLN]

Revenues also consisted largely in annual rents arising from land and
house property, some being appropriated to specific works. An early
grant to St. Bartholomew’s, Gloucester (_circa_ 1210), was to be
expended upon the maintenance of a lamp in the chapel, and shoes for
inmates, whilst the sum of 5_d._ was to go towards the provision of
five beds.


(b) _Endowments in kind._—The kings were generous in grants from royal
forests. Henry III granted one old oak from Windsor to the sick of St.
Bartholomew’s, London (1224). He afterwards gave to St. Leonard’s,
[p181] York, “licence to take what they need in the forest of
Yorkshire for building and burning, and also of herbage and pasture for
flocks and anything needful for their ease, as they had in the time of
Henry II.” Food was also supplied by patrons, especially in what might
be termed manorial hospitals, consisting generally of a grant of tithes
on produce. Another form of endowment was to impropriate livings. St.
Giles’, Norwich, owned six manors and the advowson of eleven churches.
When funds were low at Harbledown, the archbishop impropriated Reculver
church, thus augmenting the income by parochial tithes. This disgusted
the parishioners who sought redress, thinking it “ill to be subject to
lepers.”


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The Mediæval Hospitals of EnglandClay, Rotha Mary

History

The Mediæval Hospitals of England

Clay, Rotha Mary

Charities -- Great Britain; Hospitals -- Great Britain; Hospitals, Medieval; Leprosy -- England

Of the latter, some were grants on account of a vacant bishopric.
In addition to the above, sums were given to [p180] _leprosi_ of
Southampton and Peterborough, and to hospitals of Gravesend, of
Norwich, and “of the Queen.” These contributions vary from 12_d._
paid to Hereford up to £6 given to Hecham (Higham Ferrers). In some
cases corn and clothing were also contributed. There is a contemporary
representation of one of these “infirm” persons on the seal of the
lepers of Lincoln, dating from the days of Henry II and St. Hugh. The
document to which it is attached contains a covenant between Bullington
Priory and the hospital of the Holy Innocents, Lincoln, concerning a
rent of three shillings from the hospital.

[Illustration: 27. DOCUMENT AND SEAL OF THE LEPERS OF LINCOLN]

Revenues also consisted largely in annual rents arising from land and
house property, some being appropriated to specific works. An early
grant to St. Bartholomew’s, Gloucester (_circa_ 1210), was to be
expended upon the maintenance of a lamp in the chapel, and shoes for
inmates, whilst the sum of 5_d._ was to go towards the provision of
five beds.


(b) _Endowments in kind._—The kings were generous in grants from royal
forests. Henry III granted one old oak from Windsor to the sick of St.
Bartholomew’s, London (1224). He afterwards gave to St. Leonard’s,
[p181] York, “licence to take what they need in the forest of
Yorkshire for building and burning, and also of herbage and pasture for
flocks and anything needful for their ease, as they had in the time of
Henry II.” Food was also supplied by patrons, especially in what might
be termed manorial hospitals, consisting generally of a grant of tithes
on produce. Another form of endowment was to impropriate livings. St.
Giles’, Norwich, owned six manors and the advowson of eleven churches.
When funds were low at Harbledown, the archbishop impropriated Reculver
church, thus augmenting the income by parochial tithes. This disgusted
the parishioners who sought redress, thinking it “ill to be subject to
lepers.”


2. BEQUESTS

Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.

The Mediæval Hospitals of England

The Mediæval Hospitals of England

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