42. THE HOSPITAL OF BROOK STREET IN SOUTH WEALD
The date of this hospital, which generally
appears under the names of Sideburbrok, Sedeburghbrok, Southbournebroke, etc., is not
known; but it was probably founded by the
lords of the manor of South Ockendon, to which
the advowson was appurtenant. We first hear of
it in 1233 and 1234, when the brethren received
grants of protection (fn. 1) from the king. There
were at first lepers there, but these seem to have
come to an end as in many other cases, and at
later times the hospital is spoken of as a free chapel.
It was dedicated to St. John the Baptist.
Very little is known of its history. In early
parts of the reign of Edward III the master
obtained exemption from payments of tenths and
fifteenths on account of the poverty of the
hospital, which was founded for lepers and sick
persons. (fn. 2) In 1304 a commission (fn. 3) of oyer and
terminer was appointed by the king on complaint
by the master that certain persons had broken into
his house and carried away his goods. In 1372
a dispute with the rector of South Ockendon
about tithes in the manor was decided by the
bishop (fn. 4) in favour of the latter.
The free chapel of Brokstreet was valued in
the Valor at £10 yearly. After the dissolution
it was sold (fn. 5) on 20 April, 1553, to Sir Anthony
Browne and Richard Weston with the messuage
called 'le Spytle' in Brook Street, eighty acres
of land and meadow and three acres of wood in
South Weald, all other lands belonging to it in
Brook Street and South Weald and 36s. 3d.
rent.
Masters of Brook Street
Thomas, (fn. 6) occurs 1254.
Ralph, (fn. 7) occurs 1302.
Edmund de Crek, (fn. 8) occurs 1304.
Richard de Burton, (fn. 9) presented 1326.
Henry de Rosse, (fn. 10) presented 1333.
John Stanwygg, (fn. 11) presented 1334.
Gilbert de Welton, (fn. 12) presented 1336.
John de Schropham, (fn. 13) presented 1368.
William Bolton, (fn. 14) occurs 1406.
Stephen Gernon, (fn. 15) resigned 1452.
William Merton, (fn. 15) presented 1452.
John Burgh, died 1461. (fn. 16)
John Johnson, presented 1461, (fn. 16) died
1474. (fn. 17)
Thomas Coweton, presented 1474, (fn. 17) died
1491. (fn. 18)
William Warham, collated 1491, (fn. 18) resigned
1496. (fn. 19)
John Wodhouse, collated 1497. (fn. 19)
Richard Burgeys, collated 1503. (fn. 20)