12. ALDERSGATE HOSPITAL
Two 16th-century authorities (fn. 1) refer to a medieval
hospital for the poor outside Aldersgate. This
Cluniac foundation was suppressed by Henry V as
an alien house, and its lands and goods granted to
the parish of St. Botolph, Aldersgate. In place of the
hospital William Bever founded a brotherhood of
the Holy Trinity, which was in turn suppressed by
Edward VI. The endowments, consisting of property
worth £18 16s. a year in the parish of St. Botolph
Aldersgate, were granted at an annual rent of
13s. 4d. in 1548 to William Harvye or Somerset, one
of the king's heralds-at-arms. (fn. 2)
MASTER
Alexander Chapman, master of the guild, occurs
1547 (fn. 3)
13. THE HOSPITAL OF THE VIRGIN MARY AND THE NINE ORDERS OF HOLY ANGELS, BRENTFORD
Before 1446 the main Bath road at Brentford End
had been diverted to the north when a stone bridge
over the Brent was built here. Between the old and
new roads stood this hospital, just inside the parish
of Isleworth and not far east of Syon Abbey. The
hospital, founded in 1446 by John Somerset, the
royal physician and chaplain, and Chancellor of
the Exchequer, incorporated a wayside chapel already
built by Somerset. The hospital community consisted of a chaplain and his clerk, nine poor afflicted
men, and two servants. A guild, called the Guild of
the Nine Orders of Holy Angels by Syon, and
consisting of a master, brethren, and sisters, was set
up to administer the hospital and chapel, and this
corporate body was empowered to hold land in
mortmain to the value of £40 a year and to have a
common seal. Each year a guildsman was to be
elected master of the guild, chapel, and hospital. (fn. 4)
The original endowment consisted of 260 acres at
Northwood in Ruislip parish and nearly 500 acres
in the parishes of Isleworth, Brentford, and Heston. (fn. 5)
By a curious arrangement made in 1463 most of this
property was transferred to new feoffees under a
twelve-year agreement to pay ten marks a year to
the chaplain celebrating divine service in the chapel
at Brentford Bridge, four marks a year to the chapel
clerk, and 7½ d. a week to the five poor persons in
the almshouses. In addition, every second year, at
Christmas, each resident was to receive two cartloads of fuel, and the five poor persons were each
given a robe. The new owners were to keep the
chapel and houses in repair, and fill any vacancies
among the fraternity. (fn. 6) Arrangements after the expiration of the twelve-year term are not recorded,
but in 1479 John Saverey, the master, obtained an
exemplification of the letters patent setting up the
hospital in 1446. (fn. 7)
By 1498 much of the endowment had been alienated. (fn. 8) Early in the 16th century, however, the
manors of Osterley and Wyke were returned to the
hospital. (fn. 9) They had been purchased by Hugh
Denys, a London citizen, (fn. 10) who bequeathed them in
1511 to Sheen Priory (Surr.) in trust to enlarge, or
perhaps refound, the Hospital of All Angels beside
Brentford Bridge for seven poor men, and to found
a chantry for two secular priests. The foundation
was to be called 'the chapel and almshouses of Hugh
Denys'. The priests were to be resident and hold
no other benefices, and they were to receive nine
marks a year and free fuel. The poor men, all
resident, were each to have 7½d. a week, free fuel,
and a gown worth 4s. (fn. 11) In 1530 the Prior and Convent of Sheen transferred the manors of Osterley
and Wyke to the Abbess and Convent of Syon under
a covenant to administer these estates for the
hospital's benefit. (fn. 12)
The hospital was suppressed in 1547, and the site
and its other lands were granted to the Duke of
Somerset, (fn. 13) who also received Syon Abbey. On
Somerset's fall in 1552 the property reverted to the
Crown, and in 1557–8 the hospital precinct, including the chapel and eight almshouses, was granted to
the newly-restored convent of Syon. (fn. 14) The bulk of
the original endowment, including the manors of
Osterley and Wyke, had already been alienated. (fn. 15)
After the second dissolution of Syon Abbey
Elizabeth I leased the chapel and the hospital with
its appurtenances to Richard Burton, and he or his
successors demolished the chapel and two of the
almshouses and converted the site into a garden. (fn. 16)
In 1608 five almshouses were being used for the
poor of Isleworth. Some of these were still there in
1649 but are said to have been rebuilt about four
years later. (fn. 17) In 1729 they were again rebuilt as the
parish workhouse. (fn. 18)
No detailed description of the hospital has survived. The premises were of brick (fn. 19) and in the 16th
century comprised two priest's houses, with small
gardens, and seven 'bedehouses' or almshouses with
similar gardens. The almshouses adjoined the south
aisle of the chapel, (fn. 20) which had a 'steeple'. (fn. 21) Within
the precinct was a small pond called the Chapel
Pool, and, adjoining the almshouses to the west,
were two messuages called 'the Sprottes' and the
Rose Inn. (fn. 22)
MASTER
John Saverey, occurs 1479 (fn. 23)
14. HAMMERSMITH HOSPITAL
The only medieval mention of this leper hospital
occurs in the will, dated 1500, (fn. 24) of Joan, wife of Sir
Thomas Frowyk of Ealing. Lady Frowyk left 4d.
each to every leper in Hammersmith and in four
other lazar houses so that prayers might be said for
her soul.
In 1549 Hammersmith Hospital came under the
care of St. Bartholomew's Hospital, (fn. 25) and in 1555–6
the inmates shared in the 26s. 8d. paid by St. Bartholomew's to the poor of the lazar houses under
their control. (fn. 26) In 1558–9 (fn. 27) and again in 1560 (fn. 28)
patients were transferred from St. Bartholomew's
to Hammersmith.
A proctor of 'the poor house or hospital of
Hammersmith' is recorded in 1578 and 1581. This
proctor was John Payne of Hammersmith, who was
licensed to collect alms in Buckinghamshire and
Northamptonshire. He promised to hand over the
sums collected to the 'guider' of the hospital. (fn. 29)
The hospital received a few private contributions
for patients between 1590 and 1608, (fn. 30) and each year
from 1602 to 1620 the 'guider' of Hammersmith
received at irregular intervals from the governors of
St. Bartholomew's sums, varying between £5 13s. 4d.
and £13 10s., towards the cost of the patients and
his own expenses. These varying amounts were
replaced in 1621 by a yearly allowance of about
£9 10s., which was continued until 1623. Payments
to the hospital then ceased. (fn. 31) The last known
reference to Hammersmith Hospital occurs in
1677, (fn. 32) and thereafter the house seems to have
fallen into gradual decay. (fn. 33) By 1705 no trace of the
building remained. (fn. 34)
Norden's map of 1593 shows the hospital south of
Palingswick (now Ravenscourt Park), on the north
side of the western road (King Street), and just
west of the Creek. (fn. 35) The irregular south-eastern
boundary of Palingswick suggests that the hospital
stood near the highway opposite the northern end
of Rivercourt Road.
KEEPERS OR PROCTORS
John Golsyngper, occurs 1560 (fn. 36)
John Payne, occurs 1578, 1581 (fn. 37)
15. THE HOSPITAL OF ST. ANTHONY, HIGHGATE (OR HOLLOWAY)
Highgate leper hospital stood facing Whittington
Stone (once a wayside cross) on the west side of
Highgate Hill, the highway between Highgate and
Holloway. (fn. 38) The hospital was founded in 1473 by
William Pole, sometime yeoman of the Crown and
himself a leper. (fn. 39) As the hospital site was given to
Pole by Edward IV, the Crown always appointed the
master, and on Pole's death in 1477 the appointment
went to another leper, Robert Wylson, a London
saddler, in return for war service. (fn. 40)
The administration of the London lazar houses
was taken over by St. Bartholomew's Hospital in
1549, (fn. 41) but four patients had been sent from St.
Bartholomew's to Highgate in 1548. (fn. 42) In 1550 two
governors of St. Bartholomew's were sent to view
Highgate spital and next year submitted a report
and inventory. (fn. 43) The revenues were small and, apart
from occasional sums paid for the upkeep of
patients, (fn. 44) the only substantial donation recorded was
the 40s. bequeathed in 1565 by Sir Roger Cholmeley,
founder of Highgate School. (fn. 45)
From about 1550 patients other than lepers were
being sent to the hospital, (fn. 46) which henceforth until
its closure in 1650 seems to have resembled a
poor house rather than a hospital. (fn. 47) In 1650 the
premises, covering two roods and worth £9 a year,
consisted of a timber building with a tiled roof,
containing a hall, a kitchen, three small rooms on the
ground floor, and five small rooms above, and an
orchard and garden. (fn. 48) The government sold the
property in 1653 to Ralph Harrison of London. (fn. 49)
The site was built over in 1852. (fn. 50)
GOVERNORS, KEEPERS, PROCTORS, OR GUIDES
William Pole, founder, occurs 1473–7 (fn. 51)
Robert Wylson, appointed 1477 (fn. 52)
John Gymnar and Katherine his wife, appointed
1498 (fn. 53)
Simon Guyn, appointed 1533 (fn. 54)
John Stafforde, occurs 1551–2, 1555–6, 1557 (fn. 55)
William Parker, occurs 1560, 1561 (fn. 56)
William Storye, appointed 1563; occurs 1577;
died 1584 (fn. 57)
John Randall, appointed 1584; occurs 1586–7,
1589; died 1590 (fn. 58)
Thomas Watson, appointed 1590; occurs 1593 (fn. 59)
William Stockwell, appointed 1605 (fn. 60)
John Harbert, dead by Sept. 1650 (fn. 61)
The pointed oval seal of the hospital, 3½ by 21/8 in.,
of which the bronze matrix survives, shows two
figures standing under canopies. (fn. 62) The younger,
on the left, holds in his left hand a sphere with cross,
while two fingers of his right hand are raised in
blessing. The right-hand figure represents St.
Anthony with his hands together in prayer. By his
right side is a T-shaped staff, from his girdle hangs
a bell, and at his left foot is a pig. Legend, roman:
SIGILLUM HOSPITALIS SANCTI IHESU SANCTI ANTONI DE HOLWEI
16. THE HOSPITAL OF ST. GILES-IN-THE-FIELDS, HOLBORN (fn. 63)
This leper hospital, dedicated to St. Giles, the
patron saint of cripples, was founded in the fields
of Holborn in the early 12th century (fn. 64) by Maud
(Matilda, d. 1118), wife of Henry I. The hospital,
with an oratory, was on the south side of the old
Roman road from London to the west, on the curve
of St. Giles's High Street near the present Charing
Cross Road (formerly Hog Lane). The parish church
of St. Giles probably occupies the site of the hospital
chapel.
Queen Maud endowed her foundation with 60s.
yearly rent from her perquisite of Queenhythe, (fn. 65)
and this rent-charge was specially noted when in
1246 the customs on this public landing-stage passed
to the City. (fn. 66) Further gifts from London citizens
raised the annual endowment to over £100, and it
seems that one citizen, a leper, gave so much that
in c. 1354 the citizens claimed that he had founded
the hospital. (fn. 67) The queen had granted the supervision of the hospital to the City, (fn. 68) and for most
of the Middle Ages the mayor and commonalty
regularly appointed two wardens or overseers for this
and the other London leper houses.
Henry II confirmed Maud's endowment (fn. 69) and
added a further 60s. a year to buy habits for the
lepers and 30s. 5d. to provide lighting. A second
charter of Henry II indicates that St. Giles's was a
royal free chapel exempt from the bishop's jurisdiction. During the Interdict (1208–14) Pope
Alexander IV granted the hospital his special protection. (fn. 70) His bull reveals that the lepers were trying
to live as a religious community and that the hospital
precinct included gardens and 8 acres of land
adjoining the hospital to the north and south. This
and other land near the hospital formed the home
farm, worked by the hospital itself. In 1321 there
were at the hospital farm horses, carts, and two
ploughs; and in 1391 at least 8 horses, 12 oxen,
2 cows, 156 pigs, 60 geese, and 186 domestic fowl.
Two years later brushwood, hay, and straw are
mentioned. White and brown loaves, peas, and
porridge formed part of the diet. (fn. 71)
During the 13th century disputes arose over the
administration of the hospital. The Crown had
appointed the two wardens or overseers in 1246; (fn. 72)
but in 1261–2 the citizens of London secured a
patent (fn. 73) stating that they had always been accus
tomed to appoint, by consent of the hospital brethren
and by royal mandate. The citizens, having made
their point, then selected the royal nominees, two
Londoners. The citizens next attempted to secure
the right to appoint the master, but the Crown's
claim was confirmed in 1287 on the ground that
the hospital had been founded by the king's ancestors. (fn. 74) The king then had to defend his position
against the Bishop of London, who claimed the right
of visitation. At an inquisition held in 1293 (fn. 75) it was
asserted that the hospital was a royal free chapel,
that the hospital advowson had always belonged to
the Crown, and that upon appointment the master
had at once exercised spiritual jurisdiction both in
the parish and precinct of St. Giles's 'without any
intermeddling' by the bishop. Of all the hospital's
property only the church of Feltham was subject to
the bishop; and the king alone had the right to visit
St. Giles's.
The hospital soon felt the weight of the king's
power, for in 1299 Edward I suddenly granted the
revenues and administration of St. Giles's to the
Master and Brethren of the Order of St. Lazarus of
Jerusalem, (fn. 76) who had their English headquarters at
Burton Lazars (Leics.). (fn. 77) St. Giles's thus became a
cell to this house (which by 1299 provided not for
lepers but for the poor, aged, and sick) and the head
of Burton Lazars became ex officio Master of
St. Giles's. (fn. 78)
The hospital's affairs did not improve, partly
owing to internal quarrels and waste, and in 1303
some of the inmates broke the locks off the gates
and allowed Robert Winchelsey, Archbishop of
Canterbury, (fn. 79) to enter and usurp the office of visitor.
Some muniments were carried off, and the master
complained to the king. (fn. 80)
Further trouble was caused by the practice, commonly employed by officers of the royal household,
of sending to the hospital non-leprous decayed
domestics and others. In 1315 the master, brethren,
and sisters petitioned in Parliment against this usage,
contending that the hospital had been founded for
lepers only. (fn. 81) Edward II's ruling in their favour
was incorporated in a new charter. (fn. 82)
In 1347 Edward III ordered the mayor and
sheriffs to see that all lepers left the City within
fifteen days. (fn. 83) The City authorities had by this time
set up their own leper hospitals, but they naturally
wished also to utilize St. Giles's Hospital, to which
they had always laid claim. The citizens therefore in
1348 complained to the king that since the Master
and brothers of Burton Lazars had taken over
St. Giles's the friars had ousted the lepers and
replaced them by brothers and sisters of the Order
of St. Lazarus, who were not diseased and ought not
to associate with those who were. After an inquiry
it was agreed in 1354 that henceforth the mayor and
commonalty should for ever present to the warden
of the hospital fourteen lepers from the City and
suburbs, or, if there were not enough there, from
the county of Middlesex. If the citizens made further
gifts, the number of lepers was to be increased in
proportion. (fn. 84) Shortly before this settlement, in 1349,
the Chancellor, John Offord, who was ex officio royal
visitor to St. Giles's, had drawn up new rules for
the management of the hospital. (fn. 85)
The affairs of the hospital still did not prosper,
and in 1367 Edward III took the hospital under his
protection, appointing as master Geoffrey de Birston, one of the brothers of the house, with instructions to straighten matters out and put the care of
the lepers first. (fn. 86) In 1384 Richard II required the
aldermen of London to make returns of the yearly
value of all the hospital's tenements and rents in the
City. (fn. 87) Next year the king appointed some of his
clerks as visitors to inquire into defaults in the
books, vestments, ornaments, and buildings and
into the dissipation and alienation of the hospital
estates. (fn. 88) Four years later the king appointed another
commission (fn. 89) to visit the hospital, with instructions
to reform abuses and remove incompetent officials.
Despite the efforts of the Master of Burton Lazars, (fn. 90)
the king took the hospital under his special protection and in 1389 appointed as warden or master for
life John Macclesfield, one of the royal clerks, (fn. 91) who
removed his predecessor, Nicholas of Dover, Master
of Burton Lazars. (fn. 92) In 1391 Robert Braybroke,
Bishop of London, usurped the right of visitation
and jurisdiction by collusion with Richard de
Kynble, a 'brother' of the hospital, and his brother
Hugh. Macclesfield reported the intrusion, which
was recorded on the Patent Rolls. (fn. 93) In the same
year, for a large financial consideration, Richard II
ignored the rights of Burton Lazars and granted
St. Giles's Hospital, advowson, and lands in frankalmoin to his grandfather's Cistercian foundation, the
abbey of St. Mary Graces on Tower Hill. (fn. 94) Legal
proceedings (fn. 95) were soon instituted by the Master of
Burton Lazars, who complained that the Abbot of
St. Mary Graces had dispossessed St. Giles's of live
stock, grain, carts, furniture, books, vestments, and
ecclesiastical ornaments worth more than £1,000.
The City authorities doubted the legality of the
grant to the Abbot of St. Mary Graces and held
back various rents in the City until commanded by
the king in 1393 to hand over money. (fn. 96) Further
action was taken by Walter Lynton, the dispossessed
Master of Burton Lazars, who in 1399 entered St.
Giles's with an armed band, turned out the abbot's
representatives, and occupied the premises. (fn. 97)
During these disturbances the lepers were 'in
want of maintenance' so in 1401 Henry IV ordered (fn. 98)
the mayor to collect 100s. from the hospital's city
tenants. This sum was duly handed over to five
lepers, and a few months later a similar collection
and distribution took place. (fn. 99) In the same year
Walter Lynton instituted proceedings against the
Abbot of St. Mary Graces, (fn. 1) and in 1402 the abbot's
grant of St. Giles's Hospital was revoked and Lynton
was restored to legal possession. (fn. 2) It was probably at
this time that Lynton compiled the hospital cartulary. (fn. 3) In 1414 he had the chief royal grants of St.
Giles's Hospital to Burton Lazars inspected, confirmed, and enrolled. (fn. 4)
During the legal proceedings the Abbot of St.
Mary Graces had accused Walter Lynton of reducing the number of lepers, dismissing the chaplain,
clerk, and servants, and replacing them by sisters,
contrary to the foundation statutes. At an inquiry
in 1402 it was found that in case of necessity the
number of lepers was often reduced from fourteen to
nine or fewer. (fn. 5) About this date the city gallows were
moved from West Smithfield to a site just northwest of the hospital precinct, at the gate of which
condemned prisoners were given a large bowl of ale,
called 'St. Giles's Bowl'. There were also gallows at
Tyburn. (fn. 6)
During the 15th century leprosy, although dying
out elsewhere, was still rife in the London area, and
St. Giles's continued as a leper hospital until at least
1500. (fn. 7) By 1535–6, however, the fourteen inmates
were described simply as 'paupers'. (fn. 8)
In 1539 the priory of Burton Lazars, with its
dependent house of St. Giles's, was dissolved. (fn. 9)
Three years earlier Henry VIII and the Master of
Burton Lazars had agreed upon an exchange of land
under which St. Giles's lost much without compensation. (fn. 10) The remaining possessions, excluding
St. Giles's church, were granted by the king in 1545
to John Dudley, Lord Lisle. (fn. 11)
The hospital premises originally comprised the
oratory or church, very soon partly parochial,
wherein burned 'St. Giles's light', (fn. 12) the houses of
the lepers, the master's house, and rooms for the
chaplain, a clerk, and a messenger or servant. By
1224 other brothers and sisters had been introduced
to carry on the administration and to help the sick;
and between 1224 and 1292 the master and three
other chaplains and clerks are mentioned, as well
as a sub-deacon and proctor. (fn. 13) A chapter-house had
been built by 1321. (fn. 14)
Much of the hospital's landed property lay around
the precinct and constituted the home farm. This
land extended eastward almost to Holborn Bar.
Within the City there were houses and rents in
many parishes, as well as the 60s. due annually from
the customs of Queenhithe. Other hospital property
was concentrated in the west of Middlesex at Feltham, Heston, and Isleworth. (fn. 15)
MASTERS, ETC. (fn. 16)
John the chaplain, occurs 1118 or earlier (fn. 17)
[Osbert FitzGodwy, ?occurs ante 1186] (fn. 18)
[Ralph son of Adam, ?occurs 1186] (fn. 19)
[Robert, ?occurs 1186] (fn. 20)
Walter of Oxford, occurs 1200 (fn. 21)
Roger of St. Anthony, occurs 1201–2 (fn. 22)
William de Cokefeld or the chaplain, occurs
?1206–7, (fn. 23) 1211–12 (fn. 24)
[Edward, ?occurs 1218] (fn. 25)
Gerard, occurs from 1217–18 (fn. 26) to 1223 (fn. 27)
Walter the chaplain [?or of Thame], occurs from
1226–7 (fn. 28) to 1260–1 (fn. 29)
William the chaplain, occurs ?1260–1 (fn. 30) to 1272 (fn. 31)
Roger de Clare, occurs from 1275–6 (fn. 32) to 1278–9 (fn. 33)
Ralph de Seinfontains (Septem Fontibus), occurs
1281; (fn. 34) resigned by 1286 (fn. 35)
Henry of Durham (C), appointed 1286; (fn. 36) confirmed 1287 (fn. 37)
[Robert de Stapul, ?occurs 1287] (fn. 38)
William de Wytheresfeld (C), appointed 1291 (fn. 39)
Walter de Clerkenwell (C), appointed 1293 (fn. 40)
[Henry de Cateby, ?occurs 1297] (fn. 41)
[ ], Master of Burton Lazars, grantee
1299 (fn. 42)
[Walter Christmas, ?occurs 1302] (fn. 43)
John Crispin (B), occurs as 'keeper' of St. Giles's
1303, (fn. 44) 1305; (fn. 45) as Master of Burton Lazars,
1316 (fn. 46)
William de Werefeld, ?deputy, occurs ante 15
Feb. 1316 (fn. 47)
Richard de Leighton (B), occurs?; (fn. 48) occurs as
Master of Burton Lazars, 1319 (fn. 49)
William de Aumenyl (B), occurs as Master of
Burton Lazars, 1321 (fn. 50)
William de Ty (B), occurs?; occurs as Master of
Burton Lazars, 1323, 1327 (fn. 51)
Hugh Michell (B), occurs?; (fn. 52) occurs as Master of
Burton Lazars, 1336–9 (fn. 53)
Richard (B), occurs as Master of Burton Lazars,
1345 (fn. 54)
Thomas de Kirkeby (B), occurs, ?as deputy,
1341; (fn. 55) as 'warden' and as Master of Burton
Lazars, 1347 (fn. 56)
Geoffrey de Chaddesden (B), occurs 1354 (fn. 57)
Robert Halliday (B), occurs?; (fn. 58) occurs as Master
of Burton Lazars, 1358 (fn. 59) ,
Geoffrey de Birston or Briston (C), appointed
1367; (fn. 60) occurs 1370 (fn. 61)
William Croxton, deputy, appointed 1371; confirmed 1384 (fn. 62)
Nicholas of Dover (B), occurs as Master of Burton
Lazars from 1364; (fn. 63) confirmed as 'warden' of
St. Giles's 1387; (fn. 64) dispossessed 1389 (fn. 65)
Richard Clifford (B), appointed as Master of
Burton Lazars in 1389 (fn. 66)
John Macclesfield (C), appointed 1389; (fn. 67) occurs
1391 (fn. 68)
Richard Crowelegh (C), appointed 1390 (fn. 69)
[William de Warden], Abbot of St. Mary Graces
(C), appointed 1391; (fn. 70) dispossessed 1402 (fn. 71)
Walter Lynton (B), occurs as Master of Burton
Lazars from 1401 to 1421; (fn. 72) occurs as master of
St. Giles's, 1403 (fn. 73)
Geoffrey Shrigley (B), occurs as Master of Burton
Lazars from 1421 to 1445 (fn. 74)
William Sutton, knight (B), occurs as Master of
Burton Lazars from 1450 to 1482 (fn. 75)
George Sutton (B), occurs as Master of Burton
Lazars from 1484 to 1504 (fn. 76)
[Thomas Harringwold, ?deputy, ?occurs 1493] (fn. 77)
Thomas Honyter (B), occurs as Master of Burton
Lazars, 1506 (fn. 78)
Thomas Morton, knight (B), occurs as Master of
Burton Lazars from 1509 to 1524 (fn. 79)
Thomas Ratcliffe (B), occurs as Master of Burton
Lazars from 1526 to 1537 (fn. 80)
Thomas Leigh, knight (B), occurs as Master of
Burton Lazars from 1537 (fn. 81) to 1543–4 (fn. 82)
[Robert Barker, ?deputy, ?occurs 1542] (fn. 83)
A common seal existed by at least 1284–5. (fn. 84) It is a
pointed oval, (fn. 85) 4 by 25/8 in., and bears a representation of St. Giles, the patron saint, who holds in his
right hand an almsbox and in his left a staff. Legend,
lombardic:
SIGILLUM SANCTI EGIDII INFIRMORUM
An enlarged cast-iron facsimile of the seal is in St.
Giles's church. (fn. 86)
17. KINGSLAND (OR HACKNEY) HOSPITAL (fn. 87)
Kingsland leper hospital was founded by the
citizens of London in about 1280. It stood just over
two miles from the city on the west side of the
Roman road to the north and at the south end of the
hamlet of Kingsland in the manor of Newington
Barowe.
The first recorded 'guide' or governor of the
hospital, in this instance called 'forman', was William
Walssheman, who in 1375 took an oath to prevent
lepers from entering the city. (fn. 88) Kingsland was one
of the group of leper houses supervised by the two
wardens appointed by the City. (fn. 89) In 1545 the 'guide'
of Kingsland petitioned the City for rules for his
house. (fn. 90) Four years later Kingsland, together with
the other five London leper hospitals, was transferred to St. Bartholomew's Hospital. (fn. 91) Subsequently the hospital records give particulars of
several patients sent to Kingsland. (fn. 92) In 1555–6
Kingsland received a quarter share of the 26s. 8d.
paid by St. Bartholomew's to four of its 'outhouses'. (fn. 93)
Further occasional payments were made by St.
Bartholomew's and by private persons for the upkeep
of patients sent to Kingsland. (fn. 94)
During the early 17th century the costs of Kingsland Hospital mounted rapidly. In 1602 repairs to
the house and barn cost approximately £150, and in
the following year fourteen bedsteads were bought
for £14. (fn. 95) At this period the 'guide' was receiving at
irregular intervals sums usually amounting to about
£8 a year, to which extra sums were added in 1611
and 1612 for the Christmas diet of the inmates. (fn. 96)
In 1613 the hospital was enlarged by the building of
a new 'sweatlie ward' at a cost of £6 4s. 7d., (fn. 97) and
in 1625 and 1627 the 'guide' requested more money
for fuel and food for the inmates. In 1643 and 1644
he had to be given £10 extra for winter fuel alone. (fn. 98)
John Topcliffe, surgeon, who had probably been
guide for fifty years, was in 1646 granted a fixed
yearly salary of £8, together with £16 'for the poor
that are admitted into diet'. (fn. 99) His successor, John
Kent, another surgeon (appointed 1649), was soon in
difficulties over the cost of medicine, special diets,
and fuel. The hospital building had also been
enlarged and so a further £20 was needed for drugs,
physic, sheets, straw for beds, and burial charges.
During Kent's tenure it was laid down that a candle
was to be burned in each of the six wards every night
in winter, and that a detailed diet was to be drawn
up for each day. (fn. 1) The practice of admitting only
women patients to Kingsland and only men to the
Lock may also have begun at this time. (fn. 2)
The Great Fire of 1666 so depleted the revenues
of St. Bartholomew's Hospital that all the patients
at Kingsland had to be discharged before Christmas
1666. The 'guide' continued in residence to look
after the premises, and in 1667 was allowed to take
patients whose friends agreed to pay for everything
except special diet. (fn. 3) By 1680 conditions had returned
to normal and Kingsland was to have 20 patients,
maintained by St. Bartholomew's. After 1682 the
'guide' was to receive £30 a year, together with a
further £3 for washing the patients' sheets, for
coals and candles, and for hemp for maintaining the
sheets. Each patient was given 4d. a day to buy his
own food. (fn. 4)
Services in the hospital chapel are recorded from
1638, when Jeremiah Gosse was chosen as minister
at Kingsland and the Lock in place of a Mr. Powell,
who had received £10 a year. (fn. 5) Many persons from
outside the hospital attended the chapel services and
in 1716, after a disturbance in the chapel, curtains
were provided to shut off the patients. (fn. 6) These
patients were suffering from ague, fever, dropsy,
jaundice, and diarrhoea amongst other diseases. (fn. 7) In
1754 many had venereal disease, but the statement
that the Kingsland and Lock outhouses had always
been used by St. Bartholomew's for such patients (fn. 8)
is not borne out by extant records. (fn. 9)
In 1725 St. Bartholomew's made a survey of
Kingsland. This revealed that all the wards were
on the ground floor, were 'very ancient and very
defective', and were now three feet below the level of
the road outside the hospital. It was decided to
rebuild and enlarge these wards. The rebuilding
programme provided for thirty beds, a bath-house,
a couch-room, a surgery, and other amenities. The
coach-house and stable were next rebuilt, and in
1727 the surgeon's house was to be repaired. (fn. 10)
Other minor repairs and innovations were effected
during the 1730's, (fn. 11) but evidently the cost of maintaining the outhouses was becoming too great.
In 1754 a sub-committee of the governors of St.
Bartholomew's reported on both Kingsland and the
Lock. It was found that the 'guide' or surgeon of
Kingsland was receiving as well as a house and his
salary of £30 an additional £50 for medicines. The
other staff consisted of a chaplain with a salary of
£12 and a gratuity of £8, and a sister, a nurse, and
a helper, each receiving 3s. 6d. a week. Since the
two outhouses together were costing more than
£700 a year to maintain, it was recommended that
both should be dissolved and their patients transferred to two special wards at St. Bartholomew's. (fn. 12)
This proposal was rejected, but in 1760 the decision
was reversed and Kingsland Hospital was closed. (fn. 13)
GUIDES
William Walssheman, occurs 1375 (fn. 14)
John Nyk, occurs 1543 (fn. 15)
— Lawson, dead by 19 Mar. 1552 (fn. 16)
— Lawson (his widow), governess and matron,
occurs 1552 (fn. 17)
Cuthbert Harrison, occurs 1557, 1560 (fn. 18)
John Dyconson, occurs 1589–90; dead by 1595–6 (fn. 19)
William Moore, occurs 1601–2 (fn. 20)
John Topcliffe, occurs 1625; dismissed 1649 (fn. 21)
John Kent, occurs 1649, 1666 (fn. 22)
John Bignall, occurs 1669; resigned 1682 (fn. 23)
Richard Berry, occurs 1682, 1689 (fn. 24)
Nicholas Field, occurs 1708; died in office 1720 (fn. 25)
James Dansie, occurs 1720, 1734 (fn. 26)
Joseph Webb, occurs 1749 (fn. 27)
Robert Young, appointed 1755; (fn. 28) not in office by
July 1761 (fn. 29)
18. KNIGHTSBRIDGE HOSPITAL (fn. 30)
Little is known (fn. 31) of Knightsbridge leper hospital
before 1549 when it was one of the six lazar houses
handed over by the City to St. Bartholomew's
Hospital. The earliest reference to Knightsbridge
occurs in 1475, (fn. 32) but the hospital was probably
among those set up or taken over by the City in the
13th or 14th century. (fn. 33)
After St. Bartholomew's assumed control a number of patients were sent from St. Bartholomew's to
Knightsbridge. (fn. 34) In 1555–6 the keeper received from
St. Bartholomew's 6s. 8d. for 'keeping the poor'. (fn. 35)
In 1582 John Glassington was the 'guider'. An annual
rent of 4s. was paid to the abbey church of Westminster, (fn. 36) and St. Bartholomew's paid 45s. for nine
'sore poor people'. (fn. 37) Subsequently Glassington
received frequent and increasingly large amounts. (fn. 38)
In 1595 he submitted a report on the state of his
hospital. (fn. 39) He said that there were no lands nor
endowments; that he had spent during his tenure
more than £100 on repairs; and that there were 36
or 37 patients, supported wholly by voluntary contributions. Food alone had cost £162 in 1594, and
candles, linen, bandages, and medicine had also
been bought. Glassington claimed to have cured
55 patients, some of whom had been dismissed as
incurable from other hospitals. Some patients were
made to work, and all attended prayers in the chapel
twice daily.
Regular financial assistance from St. Bartholomew's ceased in 1623, (fn. 40) and although the vestry
of St. Margaret's, Westminster, made occasional
grants, (fn. 41) by 1629 the hospital chapel (by then an
official chapel-of-ease to St. Martin's-le-Grand)
had fallen into serious disrepair. The chapel was
rebuilt at the cost of the inhabitants of Knightsbridge, and from 1634 pew-rents were charged to
maintain the chaplain, repair the chapel, and relieve
the poor in the hospital. (fn. 42) In 1699 the chapel, now
separately administered, was again rebuilt at the
expense of Nicholas Birkhead, a London goldsmith. (fn. 43)
The Knightsbridge lazar house and chapel were
still standing in 1708, (fn. 44) but the chapel only was
mentioned in 1720. (fn. 45) The hospital stood on one of
the main roads out of London, about a quarter of
a mile west of Hyde Park Corner, between Piccadilly
and Kensington. The buildings were north-east of
the ancient bridge over the Westbourne Brook,
marked since 1845 by Albert Gate.
PROCTORS, KEEPERS, GUIDERS, PREFECTI, OR GOVERNORS
Richard, buried 1546 (fn. 46)
Hugh Fabyan, occurs 1549–50 (fn. 47)
Thomas (or Jasper) Fabyan, occurs 1555–7 (fn. 48)
Henry Fryer, occurs, 1560 (fn. 49)
John Glassington, occurs 1581–2, 1598 (fn. 50)
William More, buried 1620 (fn. 51)
Daniel Bissell, occurs 1622 (fn. 52)
John Glassington, appointed 1654 (fn. 53)
The pointed oval seal of the hospital, (fn. 54) 2¾ by 1¼ in., shows two figures, each under a separate canopy.
On the left is the Virgin, crowned, with the Child
in her right hand, and a sceptre in her left. The other
figure is a bishop, with his right hand raised in
benediction and his left holding a pastoral staff.
Legend, black letter:
SIGILLUM OSPICI SANCTI LEN ARD I DE KYNGHTBRIGGE
[sic]
19. MILE END HOSPITAL (fn. 55)
Mile End leper hospital, said to have been founded
before 1274, (fn. 56) stood within the demesne of the
Bishop of London's manor of Stepney. (fn. 57) The hospital was on the main road to Essex, (fn. 58) to the north
of the present bridge over the Regent's Canal
and about two miles east of Aldgate. (fn. 59) The hospital
stood between the hamlets of Mile End and Stratford at Bow. (fn. 60) In 1529 it consisted of a group of
houses with six beds, a suite of rooms apparently
intended for the overseer, and a chapel dedicated to
Our Saviour and St. Mary Magdalen. (fn. 61) Appointment of the overseer appears in 1529 to have been by
a lay proprietor, (fn. 62) but in 1532 Bishop Stokesley
appointed Richard Wade, (fn. 63) and in 1540 Bishop
Bonner appointed John Mills. (fn. 64) The day-to-day
running of the hospital was transferred by the City
to St. Bartholomew's Hospital in 1549, and henceforth patients were sent to Mile End and occasional
sums were paid for their support. (fn. 65) The Spital
House is mentioned once or twice in the later 16th
century, (fn. 66) and was still standing in the 17th century,
when the property was conveyed to the Drapers'
Company. (fn. 67)
GOVERNORS, PROCTORS, KEEPERS, OR MASTERS
[?John Gymer, died 1522 (fn. 68) ]
Richard Wade, appointed 1532 (fn. 69)
John Mills, appointed 1540; (fn. 70) occurs 1557 (fn. 71)
John Stafford, occurs 1560 (fn. 72)
John Lyddington, died 1574 (fn. 73)
Henry Smith, occurs 1589 (fn. 74)
The hospital seal is known only from a reproduction. (fn. 75) It is oval and shows two figures under one
canopy. The left-hand figure holds a spade. To the
right is a crouching figure. Legend, black letter:
SIGILLUM DOMUS DEI ET SANCTE MARIE MAGDALENE APUD MYLE ENDE