Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

The location of a Medieval hospital founded 1260, dissolved in 1495. It may have been associated with the Chapel of St John at New Romney, although a second site at Old Romney has also been suggested (see record 462747), as has a third closer site at West Street, New Romney (see record 1449915). It was intended to care for the sick and feeble. After dissolution the Corporation put the property out to rent.

Monument Types

• CHURCH (Medieval - 1396 AD to 1450 AD?)
• CHURCHYARD (Medieval - 1396 AD to 1495 AD?)
• HOSPITAL (Medieval - 1396 AD to 1495 AD)

Associated Finds

• HUMAN REMAINS (Medieval - 1396 AD to 1495 AD?)

Full description

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[TR 06142472] St. John's Church [NR] (site of) [The siting symbol is omitted on OS pubns. after 1908]. (1,2) A hospital of St. John the Baptist, at Romney, was founded, probably in the 14th century and dissolved in 1495. The probable site of the church or chapel of St. John was in "St. John's Churchyard" on the Tithe Map (Field No. 49) agrees with O.S. siting for church. Foundations, bones and skeletons were found July, 1929. Presumably in building the houses which took the place of the siting symbol on OS pubns. An alternative site for the hospital is at Old Romney - see TR 02 NW 6. (3-5) No remains are visible at the site. (6) [TR 06082469] St. John's Church [NR] (site of) [NAT] (7) St. John the Baptist listed as a hospital founded in 1396; and dissolved c.1495. It was possibly built for the poor, aged and infirm. (8) Nothing is known of the foundation of this house, which was under the authority of the jurats of the town. In 1495 and afterwards the corporation received money for the rent of the house of St. John the Baptist; and it seems likely that it had then ceased to exist as a hospital. (9) The chapel of St. John the Baptist was, according to the town records, used for services until at least 1450. It was attached to buildings known as the "Priory". (10) Mr Walton, resident of 'High Force', Sussex Road New Romney dug up two skulls and other human bone during work on his garage (March 1995) on the site of St John Baptist. No other details obtained. (11)

Between 2005 and 2007 Canterbury Archaeological trust carried out a watching brief on sewer works. A total of eight burials were found in Sussex Road. These probably came from the churchyard of St John's. (13)

<1> OS 6" 1871-1908 (OS Card Reference). SKE48308.

<2> OS 25" 1898-1907 (OS Card Reference). SKE48256.

<3> Md Rel Houses Eng and Wales 1953 294 (Knowles and Hadcock) (OS Card Reference). SKE46690.

<4> Arch Cant 13 1880 245-7 (WA Scott-Robertson) (OS Card Reference). SKE34692.

<5> Annals of New Romney 1929 30 (Maj Terchman Dervills) (OS Card Reference). SKE33101.

<6> F1 CFW 21-MAR-1963 (OS Card Reference). SKE42688.

<7> OS 1:1250 1958 (OS Card Reference). SKE48176.

<8> Md Rel Houses Eng and Wales 1971 (D Knowles and RN Hadcock) (OS Card Reference). SKE46692.

<9> VCH Kent 2 1926 225 (RC Fowler) (OS Card Reference). SKE50967.

<10> Arch Cant 88 1973 119-20 (EW Parkin) (OS Card Reference). SKE35924.

<11> Field report for monument TR 02 SE 4 - March, 1963 (Bibliographic reference). SKE5059.

<12> Not applicable, SMR Kent uncatalogued index entry, Pers Comm SE Arch Services to KCC 10/4/1995 (Miscellaneous Material). SKE6440.

<13> Canterbury Archaeological Trust, 2008, The New Romney and Greatstone First Time Sewerage Scheme Pipeline watching brief, New Romney, Kent: Archaeological Assessment Report (Unpublished document). SKE18126.

Sources and further reading