Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

Grade II* listed building. Main construction periods 1066 to 1899. Originally the Hospital of St Katherine and St Nicholas founded by William Cokyn before 1193, and united with St Thomas's Hospital in 1203. Thence it was known as Cokyn's Hospital. Not dissolved, it became an almshouse. It was renamed Cogan's Almshouse from 1680, and remained so until 1870. There is 15th and 16th century detail in the roof, but most is mid 17th century and later. Refronted in brick in the 19th century

Monument Types

• HOSPITAL (Medieval to Modern - 1066 AD to 2050 AD)
• ALMSHOUSE (HOUSE, Post Medieval - 1680 AD to 1870 AD)
• HOUSE (HOUSE, Post Medieval to Modern - 1870 AD to 2050 AD)

Full description

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Description from record TR 15 NW 263:
[TR 14735796]. No 53 & 53A St Peter's St, Canterbury, (Cogan House) dates to the late 12thc when it was the Hospital of St Nicholas and Katherine (founded c1193) which was united with St Thomas' Hospital in 1203. [See TR 15 NW 59). Numerous alterations and additions have been made including a complete refronting in 1870. The house was a hospital for the widows of ministers (Cogans Hospital) from 1668 to 1870. (1-3) 'Cogan House' (plaque) presents a completely 19thc appearance externally. (4) Nos 53 & 53A St Peter's Street (Cogan House). TR 1457 NE 4/79A. A complete list of the occupiers of this house exists back to the late C12 when it was the stonehouse of Luke the Moneyer. It was originally between 1200 and 1203 called Cockyns Hospital after Cockyn (d 1203). This was later changed to Cogans Hospital after John Cogan who occupied the house from 1626-1657 and on his death founded a hospital there for the widows of ministers. The front elevation is outwardly C19. 3 storeys red brick. Old tiled roof in 2 hips. 4 cambered sashes. 2 bays on 1st floor. Ground floor has later C19 shop front with marble risers and a triglyph and paterae frieze. Behind this is an L-shaped mediaeval building of hall type with walls of flint, chalk and stone 2ft 3in thick. It is one of the few stone houses in Canterbury to survive. The interior has been much altered but has a stone pointed doorway in the hall and its original king-post in the attic. An addition was made on the south side by John Bygg, mercer and Mayor of Canterbury, about 1473. This has a heavily panelled and moulded ceiling of oak on the ground floor, and carved doorways on the 1st floor. The hall has parchemin panelling, probably erected by John Bygg's widow, Constance, (d 1513), and carved frieze above it, put up by John Thomas, hosier, in the early C16. Later in the C16, Ralph Baldwin added a panelled parlour with a plaster ceiling on the site of the courtyard facing the street and a similar room above it. He also probably inserted the staircase (of which the upper portion was altered in 1870). The house remained a hospital for the widows of ministers from 1668-1870. The building was completely refronted in 1870. (5-8) Nos 53 and 53A St Peter's Street, Cogan House. Front range contains remains of late 12th century stone house, refronted in brick 1870. Behind, at right angles, one bay of 13th century aisled hall with early scissor braced roof. 16th century timber-framed wing built on rear bays with brick gables at side. 15th century crown post roof over front range. 19th century conservatory at rear. (9) Cogan House, 53 St Peter's Street, the oldest house in Canterbury. A full measured survey is under way. (10)

The Canterbury UAD states that;
Cogan House, an unassuming and unsuspecting part of modern Canterbury contains the first aisled hall of its archaic type to be discovered in Kent, and the only urban example. The entrance to Cogan's House is through a small side passage leading into a small hall around which is fine Tudor paneling. Some of the finest examples in Kent (arch cant 1970 p123). But the building is older then this. A substantial part of an ancient stone house survives on the street front, with part of an aisled hall behind it of a date somewhere around 1250.

Documentary evidence indicate the building was the short lived Cokyn's Hospital, then a private house then in the 17th century a hospital again, Cogan's Hospital.
The first mention of the building is in 1200 of the Christchurch rentals (11). The frontage of the plot was given as 35ft the same as the present 53 St Peters Street, probably where Luke the Moneyer had a stone house. The adjacent plot was held by William Cokyn. Cokyn married Margaret Cauvel, eventually acquiring her family residence at 'the west end of St Margaret's Church' presumably no. 31 St Margaret's Street.

Shortly before 1203 William Cokyn purchased the property next to his own , for 18 marks, and founded a hospital, the exact year is unclear. Somner says it was dedicated to St. Nicholas and St Catherine later being united with East bridge hospital soon after its foundation, its life as a hospital less then 30 years. All evidence, (12) suggest that Cogan House was at one time Cokyns Hospital. The original stone house was probably of the first floor hall type with an undercroft at street level.

Cokyns Hospital ceased to be used as such c.1230, when it became a private residence. It was 'demised' to William Samuel in 1238. Two later members of the founders family lived in Cogan house in the mid 14th century, William Kokyn and his son Alexander Kokyn. Thomas Ickham lived here 1404-1415 and is probably responsible for the first major alteration to the frontage. The stone front was probably removed about then and replaced by a timber framed one. A new crown-post roof was built over this, the early 15th century posts may still be seen embedded in a partition on the second floor. John Bygg bought the house in 1473. He was a mercer by trade, and was mayor of the city 3 times. John Thomas owned the house in 1529 and made the most extensive alterations. These included pulling down the rear part of the aisled hall and built the Tudor wing. The remaining part of the hall was divided into 2 floors, and the paneling mentioned earlier, was added. This paneling called 'parchemin' is carved with a design of foliage and grapes, more in the style of continental Europe then an English style. The frieze shows some of the tools owned by Thomas as he was a hosier and 'poynmaker'. Tools depicted include a wool-combers comb, some small wool-sacks ( one of which carries the initials JT) and a tool for piercing holes for eyelets. Another Mayor/ point maker , Ralph Baldwin (1568-1611), acquired the house and built a parlor finely paneled in oak with a coffered ceiling, and above it a chamber, and an attic under the roof (13). The fen plaster ceiling is evident at the front of the building, currently ZiZi's Restaurant.

Alterations continue under the ownership of one John Cogan, who gives his name to the house. The 17th century staircase was added. Cogan bought the property in 1626 living there until he died in 1657. Hasted gives a good account of this 'second founding' (14). John Cogan may well have been a descendant of William Cokyn as there are many varied spellings of the name and it appeared to be a distinguished name local to Canterbury. In his will, proved July 27th 1657, John Cogan gave his house for the habitation, and the lands and tenements for the support and maintenance of six poor widows of clergymen, who had lived in Canterbury in the County of Kent, or in London, to be nominated by the Mayor of Canterbury and 5 senior aldermen. The 6th widow would attend on the 5 others and, and keep the house clean. However, His circumstances at death were 'perplexing and involved with difficulties', and the house was left with no endowment. The wishes were however compensated by future benefactors. Mr. Barling, 1670 left a small annuity. John Aucher left land at Worth and in Romney Marsh in is will of 1698. Mrs. Elizabeth Lovejoy 1694, Mrs. Masters 1771 both left money.

The hospital is described as 'consisting of six dwellings under one roof, with gardens attached'. Each widow received a stipend of £35 per annum and a cauldron of coals. The row of 6 coal houses still survives on the east side of the garden, although one as enlarged and made into a stable. The hospital continued until 1870 until land values had increased dramatically. The residents of the hospital were moved to new premises in London Road and Cogan House was sold to Thomas Wells a Tailor and outfitter. He inserted a shop front in the ground floor, and re-fronted the part above in red brick. Inside he turned the great staircase right round, the scar of which is visible. He added the stable. By 1935 the name had changed and was now leased to GH Hunter. This saw the last major alteration. The present shop front was put in and the entrance passage moved to the west.

Associated findings:
MON2UAD DB no 0747
Watching Brief DB no 0272
Excavation 1982 DB no 0678
Building survey DB no 1040
Building survey DB no 0877
Building survey DB no 093 (15)

The following text is from the original listed building designation:
1. 944 ST PETER'S STREET
Nos 53 and 53A (Cogan House) TR 1457 NE 4/79A 3.5.67. II* GV
2. A complete list of the occupiers of this house exists back to the late C12. It was originally called Cockyns Hospital after William Cockyn (d l203). This was later changed to Cogans Hospital after John Cogan who occupied the house from 1626-1657 and on his death founded a hospital there for the widows of ministers. The front elevation is outwardly C19. 3 storeys red brick. Old tiled roof in 2 hips. 4 cambered sashes. 2 bays on 1st floor. Ground floor has later C19 shop front with marble risers and a triglyph and paterae frieze. Behind this is an L-shaped mediaeval building of hall type with walls of flint, chalk and stone 2 ft 3 ins thick. It is one of the few stone houses in Canterbury to survive. The interior has been much altered but has a stone pointed doorway in the hall and its original king-post in the attic. An addition was made on the south side by John Bygg mercer and mayor of Canterbury, about 1473. This has a heavily panelled and moulded ceiling of oak on tile ground floor, and carved doorways an the 1st floor. The hall has parchemin panelling, probably erected by John Bygg's widow, Constance, (d 1513), and carved frieze above it, put up by John Thomas, hosier, in the early C16. Later in the C16, Ralph Baldwin added a panelled parlour with a plaster ceiling on the site of the courtyard facing the street and a similar room above it. He also probably inserted the staircase (of which the upper portion was altered in 1870). The house remained a hospital for the widows of ministers from l668-1870. The building was completely refronted in 1870.
Nos 49 to 60 (consec), Methodist Church and forecourt to Methodist Church form a group.
Listing NGR: TR1473057959 (16)

Historic Englaand archaive material: BF082961 COGAN HOUSE File of material relating to a site or building. This material has not yet been fully catalogued. Copyright, date, and quantity information for this record may be incomplete or inaccurate.

<1> MHLG (944/11/A Mar 1962) 52 (OS Card Reference). SKE47042.

<2> VCH Kent 2 1926 213 (RC Fowler) (OS Card Reference). SKE50962.

<3> MRH Eng and Wales 1953 262 (RD Knowles & N Hadcock) (OS Card Reference). SKE47441.

<4> F1 FGA 01-FEB-65 (OS Card Reference). SKE42878.

<5> DOE (HHR) Dist of City of Canterbury Kent Sept 1973 252 (OS Card Reference). SKE40231.

<6> BOE North East and East Kent 1983 254 (J Newman) (OS Card Reference). SKE38264.

<7> CAT Annual Rep 4 1979-80 24-25 (P Bennett) (OS Card Reference). SKE38705.

<8> Arch Cant 85 1970 123-138 figs (EW Parkin) (OS Card Reference). SKE35799.

<9> Hist Builds Survey Cant City Council/RCHME 57035 20 of 29 (OS Card Reference). SKE43883.

<10> CAT Ann Rep 10 1985-6 26 illus (J Bowen) (OS Card Reference). SKE38646.

<11> Urry, W., 1967, Canterbury under the Angevin Kings (Monograph). SKE28529.

<12> Somner, W., 1703, The Antiquities of Canterbury (Article in monograph). SKE29736.

<13> Parkin, E.W., 1970, Cogan House, St. Peters, Canterbury (Monograph). SKE29733.

<14> Hasted, E, 1799, The History of the Ancient and Metropolitical City of Canterbury. Vol 1. Canterbury (Article in monograph). SKE29735.

<15> Bagshaw, S., 1847, Directory of the County of Kent, II (Monograph). SKE29734.

<16> English Heritage, List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest (Map). SKE16160.

Sources and further reading