HOSPITALS
45. THE HOSPITAL OF BECCLES
There was a leper hospital, dedicated to St.
Mary Magdalen, on the south side of the town
of Beccles, on a site now known as St. Mary's
Hill. It was probably of early foundation, as
was the case with almost all hospitals for this
special affliction, but no record of it is found
earlier than the year 1362, when Sir Richard
Walkfare, kt., and others gave to the hospital
20s., annual rent issuing out of the manors of
Barsham and Hirst. (fn. 1)
Tradition relates that one Ramp, who was very
much afflicted with leprosy, was perfectly cured of his
disorder by accidentally bathing in a spring of water
near this plot, where he soon after created a hospital
for the benefit of persons so afflicted. (fn. 2)
It was under the rule of a master, and possessed
a chapel. Various wills of the locality include
bequests to this house. In 1503 Thomas Leke
of Beccles left 6s. 8d. to the repair of the lepers'
chapel, and in 1506 John Rudham of Beccles
bequeathed 12d. for a like purpose. John
Bridges, a brother of the hospital, by will of
1567, left 20s. to Humphrey Trame, master, to
be equally divided between the brethren and
sisters. (fn. 3)
This hospital escaped suppression by either
Henry VIII or Edward VI, as there seems to
have been no kind of chantry endowment connected with it, it being, like many other leper
hospitals, chiefly maintained by voluntary gifts.
Edward VI in 1550 granted licence to Edward
Lydgate, a brother of the hospital, to beg daily
for the lazars' house of Beccles. (fn. 4)
By a deed dated 18 May, 1575,
between Humphreye Trame, master of the hospital
of St. Mary Magdelin at Beccles, and the bretherne
and systern of the said hospital on the one part, and
Margaret Hury of Yoxford on the other part, it is
witnessed, that the said Humfry and the brethren
and systern, of their godly love and intent have not
only takyn the sayd Margaret into the said hospytall
beinge a sore diseased person wythe an horyble syckness, but also have admytted and made the seyd Margaret a syster of the same house during her naturall
lyfe, accordinge to the auncyent custom and order of
the same; trustynge in our Lord God, wythe the
helpe and devocon of good dysposed people, to prepare
for the same Margaret, mete, drink, clothinge, washinge, chamberinge, and lodginge, good and holsome,
duringe the naturall lyff of the said Margaret, mete
for such a person.
Humphrey Trame, by his will of 1596, gave
to the hospital
one bible, one service-book, and ye desk to them
belonging, to go and remain for ever with the hospital
of St. Mary Magdalen, to the intent that the sick,
then and there abiding, for the comfort of their souls
may have continual recourse unto the same. (fn. 5)