25. THE LEPER HOSPITAL OF SOUTHWARK
On the outskirts of the Borough was a hospital for lepers under the joint dedication of St.
Mary and St. Leonard. Stow speaks of it as
the Loke or Lazar-house for leprous persons,
which stood in Kent Street, without St. George's
Bar, but he had failed to learn anything of its
early foundation. (fn. 1)
It was probably of twelfth-century origin,
like so many similar establishments outside English towns. The first notice that we have
found of it occurs in the time of Edward II,
when it had evidently been for some time endowed. The favours it obtained from Edward II
and Edward III confirm the tradition that it was
originally of royal foundation.
Protection was granted for one year on 4 June,
1315, for the master and brethren of the hospital, and their men and lands. (fn. 2) The like was
repeated in June, 1316, for another year. (fn. 3) And
again letters of protection were obtained from
the same king on 10 April, 1320, to last for two
years. (fn. 4) On 27 July of the same year these
letters of protection were renewed for two years,
and at the same time the brethren were authorized, in consequence' of the insufficiency of
their income, to collect alms. (fn. 5)
Protection was again granted for two years,
in September, 1328, wherein it was stated that
the brethren had no sufficient livelihood unless
they were succoured by the faithful. (fn. 6)
This was one of the four leper hospitals built
for the reception of these sufferers outside London, for the injunctions against lepers entering
the City were numerous and stringent. The
other three named by Stow were those at Stratford le Bow, at Knightsbridge, and between
Shoreditch and Stoke Newington. (fn. 7)
John Pope, by his will of 1487, gave to this
hospital 6s. 8d. towards its repair and maintenance. It was for a long time under the care of
St. Bartholomew's Hospital. (fn. 8)