HOSPITALS

20. HOSPITAL OF ST. JOHN BAPTIST, AYLESBURY

The oldest hospital in Buckinghamshire seems to have been that of St. John Baptist at Aylesbury, which is said to have been founded during the reign of Henry I. by Robert Ilhale, William atte Hide, William son of Robert and John Palnok for the maintenance of lepers and sick persons. The men of Aylesbury appointed the masters. It was endowed with a messuage and 21 acres of land and 4 acres of meadow in Aylesbury. The house had however fallen into great poverty by the reign of Edward III., and was united in 1384 with that of St. Leonard in the same town. (fn. 1)

21. HOSPITAL OF ST. LEONARD, AYLESBURY

The hospital of St. Leonard at Aylesbury was founded apparently at about the same time as the Hospital of St. John Baptist, and was intended also to receive lepers. It was endowed with a messuage and 14 acres of land and 2 acres of meadow in Aylesbury, (fn. 2) but fell into poverty at the same time as the hospital of St. John, and was united to it before 1384. Both had ceased to exist long before the suppression of the chantries. The founders' names are said to have been Samson son of William, Reginald Wauncy, and others. (fn. 3) In 1360 Eleanor, Countess of Ormond, claimed to hold the advowson as lady of the town of Aylesbury, and she is said to have presented John de Adyngrave, John Synekere and another as masters. (fn. 4) In 1384 Walter Bere was appointed master of the united hospitals by the king by reason of the wardship of the heir of James Butiller, Earl of Ormonde. (fn. 5)

Footnotes