HOSPITALS
104. THE HOSPITAL OF BAGBY
This hospital is said to have been in existence
about 1290, and to have been a dependency of
the hospital of St. Leonard, York. (fn. 1) Gundreda,
wife of Nigel de Albini and mother of Roger de
Mowbray, granted to the hospital of St. Leonard land in Bagby, (fn. 2) as did Emma daughter of
Gikel de Alverton. The site of the hospital
can yet be traced in a field west of the. village.
A farm-house, about half a mile distant, bears the
name of 'Spittal Hill.' (fn. 3)
105. THE HOSPITAL OF ST. GILES BEVERLEY
The origin of this hospital is unknown. According to Leland it was founded ' by one
Wuse,' (fn. 4) before the Conquest. In the reign of
John, Ranulph was ' procurator ' of the hospital,
and he and the brethren of the house granted to
Robert son of Roger Botte a toft in Middleton
on the Wolds. (fn. 5) In 1226 (fn. 6) Archbishop Gray
granted certain tithes in Skiteby to the hospital.
Archbishop Giffard appointed Walter de Scrapetoft rector of the hospital on 20 August 1274, (fn. 7)
and inserted in his register is a return made by
the hospital, (fn. 8) relating that it was bound to have
five chaplains who daily celebrated for the souls
of Alexander de Santona, Stephen de Crancewice,
William Daniel, and Walter Godchep. The
patrons of the hospital are recorded as the archbishop, for a messuage and 2 bovates of land in
South Burton; William Constable of Holme;
William, lord of Raventhorpe, for all the land
belonging to Riding; Richard, lord of Bentley,
for land in Bentley; Alexander de Santona and
Robert Godland, Richard de Anlanbi, for land in
Riplingham; Stephen de Crancewic and Robert
de Cave, for land in Middleton; the Prior of
Bridlington for land in ' Frestingtorp '; and
Robert de Perci for the same in Eskburn. It is
added that the hospital was only bound by charter
for the maintenance of two sick men, for the
land of Bentley. Probably this return was made
in consequence of the hospital being in an unsatisfactory state, and by a decree dated 29 September 1277, the archbishop, lamenting the
condition into which the hospital had fallen, by
the advice of his cathedral chapter, and with the
consent pf the master of the hospital, annexed it
with all its property to be subject to the canons
regular of the priory of Warter. The priests and
conversi who were then there were to be maintained in the hospital or at Warter according to
the ordinance of the prior and convent. This
ordinance of Archbishop Giffard was confirmed
by Edward I in 1285-6. (fn. 9)
On 1 September 1279 (fn. 10) Archbishop Wickwane visited the hospital in person, and issued a
series of injunctions as to its management. The
Prior and convent of Warter were in future to
have four priests of good conversation in the
hospital, who by example of life might have a
wholesome influence over others, honourably
maintain the property of the hospital, continuously celebrate there, and preserve the due
observances of the hospital. The two, sick and
feeble priests, lately found there, together with
the four others were to be kept there. Fifteen
beds and as many sick persons were to be maintained by the house over and above the ten
poor folk, who, according to their charters,
received their food, and their charters were to be
observed according to their exact tenor, so that
the goods of other sick and poor were not to be
thrown in common, in any manner, nor the
charters in any way exceeded. In futureno
victuals were to be sold from the hospital. The
poor of the hospital who had no charters were to
have a competent amount of straw on Christmas
Day, and three or four eggs, according to the
arrangement of the presidents. From every
manor where geese (auce) were reared, the same
sick were to have on the feast of the blessed
Michael yearly in the hospital two geese and the
fifth part of a cheese. Sufficient soup, as was
accustomed, was to be served to them daily.
The fifth lagena of ale brewed for Christmas,
and the fifth ox from the larder, the fifth sheep,
and the fifth pig of the larder, except the hide,
tallow, sheepskins and fat, and the lard, the said
sick persons were to have. The prior and convent were to maintain the infirmary with the
local alms. At the burial of the poor persons
four lights were to be used, at their cost, if funds
permitted. As soon as anyone was admitted to
the brotherhood of the hospital he was to make
his will and bestow his goods on the place, and
was not to assign them elsewhere. The men
were to use white tunics and black scapulars with
hoods, the women white tunics and black mantles, and none were to go outside the precincts of
the infirmary without the leave of the guardian
(custos) specially appointed for this, nor were they
to eat, drink, or sleep, or stay except in the
infirmary. Having heard divine service in the
chapel within the infirmary, they were to be
occupied with the work of the house, as in spinning, washing the clothes of the canons and
their servants. The private and suspected apartments or cells in the infirmary were to be
removed without delay, that no evil could be
suspected in the house in future.
The archbishops seem to have appointed the
master, and on 6 November 1388 (fn. 41) Archbishop
Arundel appointed Thomas Rooland master of
the hospital of St. Giles, when it was explicitly
stated that the prior and convent could not recall
him to Warter. In 1410 he was elected Prior
of Warter, and on 31 December 1412 obtained
licence from Archbishop Bowett to alienate for
£60 to certain burgesses of Beverley in perpetuity
a close belonging to the hospital and commonly
called ' Seyntgiliscroft.' (fn. 42) The subsequent history of the hospital is merged in that of the priory
to which it was annexed. It would seem that
women were received as recluses in the hospital, (fn. 43)
as Stephen Tilson of Beverley in his will, dated
6 June 1469, bequeathed 20d. 'cuilibet mulieri
recluse infra domum sancti Egidij Beverlaci.' (fn. 44)
A few years later than this Roger Lunde and
Joan his wife, in return for the gift of all their
property to the hospital, were given by Thomas
Byrdlington, then master, a corrody and a ' celle
sett yn the southe parte of the Fermorye of the
seyd hospitall with a gardyne by hym.' After
Roger's death John Dobson, clerk, master, and
Thomas Nowson, Prior of Warter (1498-1526),
deprived Joan of her garden, ' which was to her
a greate yerthely comfort,' and detained her
corrody. (fn. 44a)
106. THE HOSPITAL OF ST. NICHOLAS, BEVERLEY
Leland says 'ther was an Hospital of S.
Nicholas by the Black Freres but it is dekayid.' (fn. 45)
Probably it was from its nearness to the house of
the Black Friars that it came to be commonly
called the ' Friary.' The earliest allusion to it
seems to be in an indulgence for ten days, which
Archbishop Romanus granted in 1286 to those
who visited and helped the decayed folk of the
hospital of the blessed Nicholas of Beverley. (fn. 46)
Some charters, dated 1363 and 1414 respectively, describe land as adjoining that 'of the
brethren and sisters of the brotherhood of St.
Nicholas.' (fn. 47)
In 1300 one Robert Raggebroke complained
against Robert de Kyrketon, master of the
hospital of St. Nicholas at Beverley and certain
of the brethren, that he had been despoiled of
his free tenement in Beverley, to wit, a bed
pro infirmo for a year, a piece of grey cloth, a
dish of pottage daily, 2s, weekly, and 4s. yearly
to be received at the said hospital. (fn. 48)
Archbishop Kemp, on 31 January 1448,
issued a commission 'ad visitandum hospitale
sive locum vocatum friariam Sancti Nicholai
prope Beverlacum.' (fn. 49) There seems, however,
to be no record extant concerning the visitation
itself. The double name of the hospital or
' Friary' is also found in the appointments of
masters in 1411 and 1458. In the provost's
book there are notes of payments received ' de
magistro Frarie domus Sancti Nicholai pro scitu
dicti hospitalis,' and for a croft called ' Frarycroft.' (fn. 50)
Masters
Ranulf, occurs before 1250 (fn. 51)
Robert de Kyrketon, occurs 1300 (fn. 52)
Thomas de Gudmundeham, appointed 1381 (fn. 53)
William de Scardeburgh, appointed 1411 (fn. 54)
Thomas Sprotteley, appointed 1427, (fn. 55) died
Edmund Hardyng, appointed 23 Aug. 1458, (fn. 56)
resigned
Nicholas Bellerby, resigned 7 Sept. 1458 (fn. 57)
John Penketh, appointed 1485, (fn. 58) resigned
1503
Richard Penketh, appointed 1503 (fn. 59)
Nicholas Mell, resigned 1538 (fn. 60)
Richard Hawcliff, appointed 1538 (fn. 61)
107-114. LESSER HOSPITALS, BEVERLEY
Trinity Hospital.—John de Ake, merchant,
of Beverley, in his will dated on Monday next
before Michaelmas 1398, bequeathed all his lands
and tenements in Beverley to Ellen his wife
during her life, after her death to be applied to
erecting and endowing a chapel on the Crossbridge in Beverley, and a hospital for twenty-four
poor folk, their places, as they died, to be filled
on the nomination of the twelve governors of
Beverley, as well as a chaplain to do divine service in the chapel. (fn. 62)
Richard II, on 27 June 1397, (fn. 63) had granted
to Robert Garton and Henry Maupas that they
might assign to the twelve governors of Beverley
two messuages and a certain piece of vacant
ground, 120 ft. long and 24 ft. broad, to find a
chaplain to celebrate for the king, Thomas, late
Archbishop of York, John de Ake of Beverley
and Ellen his wife whilst they lived, and after
death for their souls, and for the souls of Anne
late Queen of England, John de Burton, clerk,
and of all faithful departed, in a certain chapel,
newly erected on the said piece of ground, and
also for the support of twelve poor persons, to
reside in a certain house there erected.
Archbishop Scrope granted licence on 23 June
1399 (fn. 64) to Robert de Garton and Henry Maupas
that they might give the tenement occupied by
Thomas de Ryse in Keldgate, Beverley, at the
time of his death, to the twelve governors of
Beverley for the support of a chaplain and
twenty-four poor persons in a certain house of
God newly erected upon the Crossbridge of
Beverley, further confirming the grant by the
Chapter of York to Robert Garton and Henry
Maupas and the governors of Beverley of the
tenement which John de Ake held on, the day of
his death, in Cross Garths in Beverley.
It seems clear from these evidences that John
de Ake had founded the hospital before his
death and endowed it by his will. Robert
Croull, Prebendary of Fridaythorpe in York, also
on 23 June 1399, (fn. 65) allowed the tenements
in Cross Garths, which John de Ake had held of
the prebend, to be applied to the purposes of
the hospital. Poulson states that the Cross
Garths were situated on the east side of Butcher
Row, and that the Corporation Almshouses existing in his time (1828) in the street were those
of Ake's foundation.
An indenture between Thomas Browne,
chaplain of the chantry chapel of Holy Trinity,
on the Crossbridge in Beverley, founded by John
de Ake and Ellen his wife and the governors of
the town, dated 1419, for the safe keeping of
the plate, books, and ornaments of the same, is
printed in Poulson's Beverlac. (fn. 66)
Richard de York, chaplain of Lythe in Cleveland, in 1437 left 3s. 4d. ' hospitali sancte Trinitatis que vocatur Crosgarth in Beverlaco,' (fn. 67) and
Richard Beford, butcher, of Beverley, left a
similar sum in 1434, 'pauperibus domus sancte
Trinitatis apud Crossebrigg.' (fn. 68)
The hospital appears to have had no master or
warden. Leland s reference to it is ' Trinity
Hospital yet (1532) standith in the hart of the
Toun. Sum say one Ake foundid it.' (fn. 69)
The Hospital of St. Mary without the
North Bar.—In Leland's time there was ' an
hospitale yet standyng hard without the North
Bar Gate, of the foundation of 2 merchant men,
Akeborow and Hodgekin Overshall. As I remembre ther is an image of Our Lady over this
Hospitale Gate.' (fn. 70) On 26 July 1434 Richard
Beford of Beverley, butcher, left 3s. 4d.' pauperibus capelle beate Marie extra Barram borialem.' (fn. 71)
On 8 January 1466-7 William Tasker of
Beverley, chaplain, bequeathed 6d. ' pauperibus
domus elemosinarie beate Marie virginis extra
Barram borialem.' (fn. 72) Henry son of John Holm,
late of Beverley, on 20 August 1471 (fn. 73) left
6s. 8d. to the poor of the house, described
exactly as before, as did also John Midelton,
merchant, of Beverley, on 17 June 1475. (fn. 74)
John Ashton, mercer, of Beverley, a little earlier
described it in his will (21 November 1468) as
' domus oracionis extra barram borialem,' (fn. 75) a
term he applied to the other hospitals in the
town. It must not be confused with a leper
house, also outside the North Bar, which was
quite distinct from it.
The Hospital of St. John Lairgate.—
Of this hospital nothing is known either as
to its origin or history, but allusions to it are
met with in wills and other documents. On
8 January 1466-7 William Tasker of Beverley,
chaplain, bequeathed 6d. ' pauperibus domus
elemosinarie Sancti Johannis in Laythgate.' (fn. 76)
Robert Bentlay of Bentley left on 1 March
1467-8 the same sum ' hospitali Sancti Johannis
in Laythgatt.' (fn. 77) On 21 November 1468 John
Ashton, mercer, bequeathed 'domui oracionis
Sancti Johannis in Laregate ' 20d. (fn. 78) Henry
Holm, 6s. 8d. on 20 August, 1471, 'pauperibus
domus Sancti Johannis in Lathgate,' (fn. 79) and on
17 June 1475 John Midelton left 20d. 'domui
elemosinarie beati Johannis in Lathgate.' (fn. 80)
In a grant by Queen Elizabeth to the mayor,
governors and burgesses of the town is included
'all that our tenement in Laregate in Beverley
aforesaid, one orchard and one close . . . containing by estimation one acre and a half of land
now or late in the occupation of certain paupers
called the Massendeu of St. John the Evangelist
in Beverley aforesaid abutting on the east part of
the aforesaid street called Laregate.' (fn. 81)
The Leper House Outside The North
Bar.—This was probably the chief leper house
connected with Beverley. In 1402 John Kelk
appeared before the twelve governors of the town
in the Guildhall, and sought permission to erect
a certain porch (quondam porcheam) against the
said house outside the North Bar of Beverley for
the habitation of lepers, men and women.
Leave was granted to build the porch on a piece
of waste ground measuring 8 ft. by estimation. (fn. 82)
Several bequests were made to the lepers outside
the North Bar of small sums of money by Richard
Beford in 1434, (fn. 83) William Tasker in 1466-7, (fn. 84)
John Ashton in 1468, (fn. 85) Henry Holm in 1471, (fn. 86)
John Midelton in 1475, (fn. 87) but for some unexplained reason in none of these instances is any
house mentioned, the lepers ' dwelling' or ' being'
outside the North Bar is all that is said. Thomas
Burton, of Bainton, on 30 June 1473, left 12d.
to each lazar house in Beverley, and also in
aux ilium et relevamen domus lazari dicti Beverlaci
unum lectum scilicet unam culcitram, unum
bolstor, par lodicum, par linthaminum cum
c'oopertorio.' (fn. 88) It seems not unlikely that it was
to this house that the bequest was made.
Other Houses.—In the grant of lands by
Queen Elizabeth to the town of Beverley is
included 'all that tenement and one little garth
there [in Fishmarket] containing by estimation
one rood of land, commonly called St. John
Baptist Massendeu, now or late in the occupation
of certain paupers, abutting on the west part of
a street called Fishmarket.' (fn. 89) Beyond this
reference nothing is known about this hospital.
In 1394 a certain Margaret Taillor, a leper,
came before the twelve governors of Beverley in
the Guildhall, and asked for charity's sake to have
a bed within the house of the lepers outside
Keldgate Bar, which petition was granted. (fn. 90)
There was a Maison Dieu built by the gild
of St. Mary connected with St. Mary's Church
in Beverley, (fn. 91) and another connected with the
minster; but whether they were the same as
some already mentioned is not quite clear.
John Midilton, on 17 June 1475, bequeathed
12d. pauperibus in Wodlane, and the same amount
pauperibus domus in Dedelane, Beverley, (fn. 92) but other
mention of these houses has not been met with.
Poulson, (fn. 93) describing the Corporation Almshouses says: ' These almshouses consist [in
1828] of four tenements in Lairgate called Bedehouses, and of thirteen rooms near the south end
of Lairgate and nine similar rooms on the east
side of Butcher Row called the Maison-Dieus
formerly Ake's Hospital founded in 1396. They
stand on the freehold property of the corporation, and are kept in repair by them; but there
are no estates or funds specifically appropriated
to their support.' It seems likely that St. John's
Hospital in Lairgate rather than Ake's Hospital
on the Cross Bridge are, or were, perpetuated by
these almshouses. In 1889 these corporation
almshouses in Lairgate are described as being
four in number and called ' Maisons de Dieu.'
115. THE HOSPITAL OF BOROUGHBRIDGE
A hospital existed at one time in Boroughbridge, but had already fallen into decay by
1297. (fn. 94) Nothing is known of its history.
116. THE HOSPITAL OF ST. HELEN, BRACEFORD
Res ap Griffith and Joan his wife in 1340
bought the advowson of this hospital from Philip
de Somerville, and next year regranted it to
Philip to hold for life. (fn. 94a)
An entry in Archbishop Kemp's Register (fn. 95)
records the institution, on 28 January 1433-4,
of John Nailston, priest, to the perpetual chantry
at the altar of the Blessed Virgin in the parish
church of Burton Agnes, and to the hospital of
Braceford annexed to the said chantry, vacant by
the death of William Foston, chaplain, and belonging to the gift of John Griffitz, kt., patron
of the said chantry and hospital. It was almost
certainly the hospital mentioned in the Taxatio
of 1291, where it is said that the hospital of
' Brayteford' held at ' Brayteford ' property of
the value of £4. 7s. (fn. 96) The mastership, might,
apparently, be held by an unmarried layman, as
an undated petition of the 15th century relates
that the hospital or free chapel of Braceford,
here said to be of the king's gift and foundation,
having fallen vacant by the marriage of Robert
Skerne, late possessor, the king had presented
Nicholas Calton, clerk. (fn. 97)
On 10 April 1505 (fn. 98) William Monceux, who
described himself as chaplain of the hospital of
the chantry of the Blessed Mary in Burton Agnes,
made his will, in which there is, however, no
allusion to the hospital.
Chaplains or Keepers of the Hospital
John Barnetby, presented 1389 (fn. 98a)
Robert Skyrne, occurs 1399 (fn. 98b)
William Kechyn, keeper, occurs 1413 (fn. 99)
William Fostpn, chaplain, occurs 1433 (fn. 100)
John Nailston, chaplain, instituted 1433 (fn. 1)
William Monceux, chaplain, died 1505 (fn. 2)
Thomas Pierson, last chaplain, alive 1552-3 (fn. 3)
117. THE HOSPITAL OF ST. MARY, BRIDLINGTON
This hospital is said to have been founded by
the Prior and convent of Bridlington. (fn. 4) Alan de
Monceaux, (fn. 5) with the consent of Maud his wife
and Robert their son, gave to the poor of this
hospital land in Hertburn (in Barmston in Holderness), for the soul of Stephen, Earl of Albemarle,
and Hawise his wife; and Walter Burdun, (fn. 6) of
Winkton, gave to the use of the poor in this
hospital land in Hertburn, with a turbary.
The hospital is again mentioned in a mandate,
15 September 1342, (fn. 7) addressed by Pope Clement VI to the Archbishop of York and the
Abbots of York and Selby, to receive Maud,
relict of Master John de Bramham, physician, as
a sister of the hospital.
118. THE HOSPITAL OF ST. GILES BY BROMPTON BRIDGE
Considering the frequent allusions to this
hospital before the Reformation, remarkably
little is known about it. The former position of
the hospital is indicated by a farm called
St. Giles, on the south bank of the Swale.
At the present time there is no bridge near, and
it seems probable that when Catterick Bridge
was built (c. 1421) an older bridge near St. Giles
may have been discarded.
The hospital is alluded to under various
names, (fn. 8) but the formal designation appears to
have been that of the hospital of St. Giles,
juxta pontem de Brunton, or de ponte de Brunton.
In the chartulary of St. Agatha's Abbey, Easby, (fn. 9)
there are some transcripts of 13th-century deeds
relating to the possessions of the hospital, many
of which the brothers of St. Giles exchanged for
others with the canons of Easby. These lands
lay in Marske, Scotto.n, Newton Morrell, &c.
Unfortunately only one can be dated, as c. 1220,
from the name of a witness. The others are
undated, and the names of the witnesses are
omitted. They indicate, however, that the head
was called the custos or magister indiscriminately,
and that the brothers were fratres infirmi, who,
in the deed of c. 1450, speak of a grant being
made assensu capituli nostri, implying that the
establishment had the quasi-collegiate character
of a larger hospital.
In Kirkby's Inquest it is stated that there were
8 carucates of land in Brompton Brigg, of which
the master of St. Giles held 2 bovates. (fn. 10)
There is a seal appended to an indenture
dated 29 June 1376 (among Sir John Lawson's
manuscripts) between Richard of Richmond
and Elizabeth his wife of the one part and Sir
Walter de Wendeslaw master of the hospital of
St. Giles of Brompton Bridge and the brethren
and sisters of the same of the other part. It has
a figure (probably St. Giles) and two shields, (a)
vair a fesse (Marmion) (b) a bend between six
martlets (? Furnival). All that remains of the
legend is: ... HOSPIT ... CATERI ... It
should be noted that although the hospital is,
called Brompton Bridge, the legend on the seal
is Catterick. (fn. 11)
Masters or Wardens
Robert, occurs 13th century (after c.1220) (fn. 12)
John de Ellerton, occurs 1305 (fn. 13)
Roger de Skitby, occurs 1338 (fn. 14)
Simon de Wintringham, occurs 1343, (fn. 15) 1352 (fn. 16)
Walter de Wendeslaw, occurs 1376 (fn. 17)
John Hilyard, occurs 1388 (fn. 18) -1402 (fn. 18a)
William Lister, occurs 1451 (fn. 19)