Exploring Kent's Past

It should not be assumed that this site is publicly accessible and it may be on private property. Do not trespass.

Monument details

Summary

Site of leper hospital founded circa 1180. By 1363 there were no lepers and the hospital was restored and refounded to help the poor. Dissolved 1481and granted to Magdalen College, Oxford.

Monument Types

• INHUMATION (Medieval - 1180 AD? to 1481 AD?)
• LEPER HOSPITAL (HOSPITAL, Medieval - 1180 AD to 1363 AD)
• HOSPITAL (Medieval - 1363 AD to 1481 AD)

Associated Finds

• HUMAN REMAINS (Medieval - 1180 AD to 1481 AD)

Full description

If you do not understand anything on this page please contact us.

A Hospital of St Stephen and St Thomas was founded at New Romney c.1180 for lepers. About 1350, no lepers remained so it was refounded for poor people. It was dissolved in 1481. (1) (Area TR 060248). A map in Magdalen College, Oxford dated 1614, shows the hospital standing on the west side of New Romney, near the Appledore road. The field, bounded by a track still known as Spitalfield Lane, retains approximately its old boundaries. Excavations in this field in 1935 revealed fragmentary foundations and other remains of the probable hospital chapel rebuilt about 1363, the date of the refounding of the hospital. (2) Hospital shown at TR 05852488. (3) Site developed c.1955 as a housing estate. A watching brief was kept on it by the Ministry of works who are thought to have made a plan. A skeleton and some pottery were found. (4) Founded by Adam Cherryng with a chaplain who in 1322 maintained 15 or at least 13 brothers and sisters. By 1363 there were no lepers and the hospital was almost derelict. Re-founded with a priest-warden and a chaplain by John Fraunays, the then patron. It was in ruins in 1481, and was annexed to Magdalen College, Oxford. (5-7) When it was founded, it was fiven various lands, rents and other possessions for the support of lepers. (8) In 1959 in advance of building, a further excavation was carried out to determine the position, form a plan and re-examine the tratigraphy of the hospital site. Two buildings were re-discovered. All pottery and thus all the structures had been assigned to post 1363, but under re-examination occupation was found to date to the first half C13, possibly earlier occupation. The main building in both phases was a single-celled structure, re-roofed and re-floored at the foundation. All evidence points to a chapel. The northern building was in the same position in both phases, and the evidence of occupation suggests a hall for the master and probably other clerks. The normal practice was to house lepers in cells, but no trace was found here, and they may have been of timber and demolished at the refoundation. (9) Some of the briefs in Episcopal Registers were not unlike modern appeals with their lists of presidents and patrons - that on behalf of Romney hospital in 1380 was signed by both archbishops and eleven bishops. (10) The chapel of the leper hospital fell into disuse, perhaps owing to plague. (11) Of the early charters at Magdalen College, Oxford relating to the hospital of St Stephen and St Thomas, there is not a foundation charter, and none gives any indication that Adam de Cherringes was the founder. The five charters of the C13 point to continuing benefaction. The documentary evidence is inadequate, but shows three main periods of development - foundation and endowment as a leper hospital, undergoing the first stages of a change in function. Chantry chapel and leaseholding. Unlike as suggested by S.E Rigold (7), it appears that it was able to adapt to the changing conditions of the C14. One needs to question the evidence suggested by the earlier excavations, and to see whether the division of the pottery into two general chronological categories - c.1260-1340 and c.1360-1440 is as secure as has been suggested. (12) The hospital was founded in the reign of Henry II and dedicated to St Stephen and St Thomas a Becket. (13)

Between 2005 and 2007 Canterbury Archaeological trust carried out a watching brief on sewer trenches. A deposit of burnt daub was found, thought to relate to a levelling deposit laid down before the construction of the hospital. A wall foundation and a grave cut this deposit. The burial was of a young adult male. (17)

<1> Md Relig Houses Eng & Wales 1953 294 (Knowles & Hadcock) (OS Card Reference). SKE46705.

<2> Arch Cant 47 1935 198-204 (K M E Murray) (OS Card Reference). SKE35215.

<3> VCH Kent 2 1926 225 (R C Fowler) (OS Card Reference). SKE50966.

<4> Map of the lands of St Mary Magdalen Oxford 1614 in Romney Town Hall (OS Card Reference). SKE46542.

<5> F1 CFW 21-MAR-1973 (OS Card Reference). SKE42689.

<6> Mr Collins New Romney Town Clerk (OS Card Reference). SKE47369.

<7> Md Relig Houses Eng & Wales 1971 380 (D Knowles & R Neville Hadcock) (OS Card Reference). SKE46707.

<8> Arch Cant 11 1855 31-32 (T J Pettigrew) (OS Card Reference). SKE34645.

<9> Arch Cant 13 1880 247-249 (W A Scott Robertson) (OS Card Reference). SKE34693.

<10> Arch Cant 29 1911 263 (OS Card Reference). SKE34967.

<11> Arch Cant 79 1964 47-69 (S E Rigold) (OS Card Reference). SKE35671.

<12> Med Hospitals of Eng 1966 188 (R M Clay) (OS Card Reference). SKE46774.

<13> Arch Cant 88 1973 120 (E W Parkin) (OS Card Reference). SKE35925.

<14> Arch Cant 96 1980 17-26 (A F Butcher) (OS Card Reference). SKE36240.

<15> JBAA 11 1855 33-34 (T J Pettigrew) (OS Card Reference). SKE44864.

<16> Field report for monument TR 02 SE 7 - March, 1973 (Bibliographic reference). SKE5062.

<17> 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