Hospitals: St Leonard, Brackley

A History of the County of Northampton: Volume 2. Originally published by Victoria County History, London, 1906.

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'Hospitals: St Leonard, Brackley', in A History of the County of Northampton: Volume 2, (London, 1906) pp. 153-154. British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/northants/vol2/pp153-154 [accessed 17 March 2024]

In this section

26. THE HOSPITAL OF ST. LEONARD, BRACKLEY

The hospital of St. Leonard, Brackley, like most institutions of that dedication, was founded for the relief of lepers. It is usually termed in contemporary records hospitale leprosorum, but occasionally simply hospitale infirmorum.

The earliest documentary evidence of this hospital occurs in 1280, when the warden of St. Leonard's granted to the master of St. John's Hospital a croft in the Newland of Brackley in exchange for an acre of land. (fn. 1) Beyond entries in the diocesan registers relating to the institution of masters or wardens, not much is recorded of this house. In 1303 Bishop Dalderby granted an indulgence to all those who should assist the poor of the hospital of St. Leonard, Brackley. (fn. 2) In 1309 the warden and brethren entered into an agreement with Richard Baker and Denise his wife relative to a messuage in Brackley. (fn. 3)

John Brokehampton, instituted as master in 1417, was also warden of the hospital of SS. James and John, Brackley; probably the government of the smaller hospital of St. Leonard was at that date merged into the larger, as no further institutions to the smaller house are given.

The hospital and chapel must have been situated at the northern extremity of the town, for Leland remarks: 'The Lengthe from St. James' Churche at the South End of the Towne to the Chapelle of Seint Leonard hathe bene halfe a Mile in Building.' (fn. 4)

Masters Or Wardens Of St. Leonard, Brackley

William of Wapenham alias Eylesbury, (fn. 5) instituted 1291

Geoffrey Bernard, (fn. 6) instituted 1292

Robert of Rodeston, (fn. 7) died 1318

Simon Pelwor of Brackley, (fn. 8) instituted 1318, died 1327

Philip of Helmedon, (fn. 9) instituted 1327

Robert of Marchonley, (fn. 10) resigned 1335

Roger of Oxford, (fn. 11) instituted 1335, died 1339

William de Camulton, (fn. 12) instituted 1339, resigned 1341

Adam of Thenford, (fn. 13) instituted 1341, resigned 1353

Thomas of Ashborne, (fn. 14) instituted 1353

Richard Estwet, (fn. 15) instituted 1372

Richard Trenchaunt, instituted 1400

John Beby

Richard Foxton, (fn. 16) died 1406

John Maystur, (fn. 17) instituted 1406, resigned in the same year

William Patrick, (fn. 18) instituted 1406

John Brokehampton, (fn. 19) instituted 1417

Footnotes

  • 1. Magd. Coll. Evid. B. 35, cited by Baker, Hist. of Northants, i. 584.
  • 2. Linc. Epis. Reg. Memo. of Dalderby, f. 66.
  • 3. Magd. Coll. Evid. B. 39, cited by Baker, Hist. of Northants, i. 584.
  • 4. Leland, Itin. (Hearne ed.), vii. 5.
  • 5. Linc. Epis. Reg. Inst. of Sutton, f. 49.
  • 6. Ibid. f. 52.
  • 7. Ibid. Inst. of Dalderby, f. 134.
  • 8. Ibid.
  • 9. Ibid. Inst. of Burghersh, f. 179.
  • 10. Ibid. f. 213d.
  • 11. Ibid.
  • 12. Ibid. f. 226.
  • 13. Ibid. f. 242d.
  • 14. Ibid. Inst. of Gynwell, f. 152d.
  • 15. Ibid. Inst. of Bokyngham, f. 190d.
  • 16. Ibid. Inst. of Repingdon, f. 223d.
  • 17. Ibid.
  • 18. Ibid. f. 225.
  • 19. Ibid. f. 269.