32. THE HOSPITAL OF ST. THOMAS THE MARTYR, MARLBOROUGH
A house of lepers at Marlborough is first mentioned in 1231, when the king granted it letters of
protection (fn. 1) and authorized a gift of wood from
Savernake Forest for building purposes. (fn. 2) The following year there was another royal gift of wood
for rebuilding the chapel of the house. (fn. 3) In 1246
the king made a grant of 50s. to be paid annually
from the profits of his manor at Marlborough to
the brethren of the house for the maintenance
of a chaplain to pray for the soul of the king's
mother. (fn. 4) Royal letters of protection were reissued
in 1260, 1267, and 1269. (fn. 5) John Trewe, described as a 'hermit' of the hospital, was granted
one year's protection in 1340 when collecting
alms throughout the country. (fn. 6)
The wardenship of the house was granted in
1321 by the king to one of his clerks. (fn. 7) A servant
in the royal almonry received a grant of the 'free
chapel' of St. Thomas by Marlborough in 1388, (fn. 8)
and from June to September 1391 the same man
also held the hospital of St. John the Baptist at
Wilton (see below, p. 366). In 1393 the reversion
of the hospital, said to be in the king's gift and of
little value, was granted to the Prior and Convent
of St. Margaret's, Marlborough (see above), and
their successors. (fn. 9) Nevertheless, presentation to
the wardenship of the free chapel appears to have
been in the king's hands in 1398. (fn. 10)
In 1402 a body of commissioners was appointed to inquire into the hospital's endowments. (fn. 11)
No separate return was made for the hospital in
the Valor Ecclesiasticus and probably its endowments are included in the return for St. Margaret's. (fn. 12)
The site of this hospital is unknown. It may
have been on the eastern outskirts of the town,
however, since in 1275 the bishop claimed free
warren from the hospital, described as lying outside the town, to Hungerford bridge, which is on
the east side of Marlborough. (fn. 13)
Wardens or Masters
William de Sumery, appointed 1321. (fn. 14)
Byndus de Bandinel, resigned (on exchange)
1346. (fn. 15)
Philip of Weston, collated 1346. (fn. 16)
John Winwick, resigned (on exchange) 1347. (fn. 17)
Edward Romeyn, presented 1347. (fn. 18)
Philip (or John) Olney, occurs 1377-8. (fn. 19)
John Were, appointed 1388, occurs 1393. (fn. 20)
John Cheyne, appointed 1398. (fn. 21)