Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

The hospital of St John the Baptist, Northgate, Canterbury, was founded circa 1087 for the poor, aged and sick. Some of the buildings, dating from the 11th to the 15th century, and including the remains of a 12th century chapel, still remain. The entrance to the hospital, still in use as an almshouse, is through a 16th century timbered gateway with chamber over.

Monument Types

• HOSPITAL (Medieval - 1087 AD? to 1539 AD)
• CHAPEL (Medieval to Post Medieval - 1100 AD to 1599 AD)
• GATEHOUSE (Medieval to Post Medieval - 1100 AD to 1599 AD)
• KITCHEN (Medieval to Post Medieval - 1100 AD to 1599 AD)
• REFECTORY (Medieval to Post Medieval - 1100 AD to 1599 AD)

Full description

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[Mame TR 15185832] St John's Hospital (NAT). [TR 15195833] Chapel (NR) (Remains of). (1) The hospital of St John the Baptist, Northgate, Canterbury, was founded circa 1087 for the poor, aged and sick. Some of the buildings, dating from the 11th to the 15th century, and including the remains of a 12th century chapel, still remain. The entrance to the hospital, still in use as an almshouse, is through a 16th century timbered gateway with chamber over. (2-4) St John's Hospital (Name Board): a group of seven 19th century almshouses incorporating remains of the earlier foundation is as described. The chapel is in daily use. See GPs AO/65/59/6,7,8, AO/65/60/3. (5) Gatehouse to St John's Hospital, Grade II*. 16th century, restored. Two storeys timber-framed with plaster infill. Tiled roof. Chapel to St John's Hospital, Grade B. 12th century with 15th century windows. The three east bays of the South Nave of the original Chapel survive. One storey flint and rubble with stone quoins and buttresses. Renewed tiled roof. Three C15 lancets. C19 weather porch with tiled roof and wooden surround. The interior was mainly restored in the C19. Wooden screen, unusual font and plaque with the coat of arms of George III. Refectory Hall & Kitchen to St John's Hospital, Grade II*. Dates from the 12th century and has 16th century features. Restored in the 19th century. Three storeys flint faced with reused masonry. A 12th century arched door leads to the old kitchens. The Refectory above has a blocked in 16th century fireplace. Section of wall to rear of Chapel, Grade II. 12th century. About 30ft high L-shaped of flint with portions of masonry. Round-arched window openings and round-arched door. Corbels. The almshouses are 19th century. (For details see list). (6) Additional bibliography. (7-11) Additional bibliography - not consulted. (12-14) The Hospital of St John the Baptist, Northgate, Canterbury was founded by Lanfranc in 1084 or early 1085. There are surviving remains, largely in ruins (see illus) going back to this very early foundation date; a huge 200ft long double dormitory block, with a double chapel at right angles to it, as well as the ruins of two (one still largely intact) unique late 11th century rere- dorters (see plan). The double nature of the buildings reflect the original foundation for 30 men and 30 women. The medieval buildings were largely demolished c1684. In 1983 the ruins were in very poor condition and heavily overgrown. The northern reredorter was surveyed in 1984. (15)

From the Canterbury UAD:

St Johns Hospital for the lame, weak and infirm, lies just outside the northern city walls of Canterbury, to the north-west of Northgate street. The land slopes gently down towards the River Stour and stands at elevation of between 8.75m and 7.25m above Ordnance Datum. The subsoil on the lower part of the site, consists of river-deposited gravels and mud silts (Parfitt 1990-1991). The Hospital of St John was founded in 1084, or early 1085 by Archbishop Lanfranc as a sister establishment to the house of secular canons at St Gregory's Priory, sited opposite. St Johns was founded together with the Leper Hospital of St Nicholas at Harbledown. With the exception of the Hospital of St. Bartholomew at Chatham, no other hospital in Britain has such an early documented foundation date (Tatton-Brown 1984).

Although largely ruins, there are visible surviving remains of substantial nature, going back to foundation date, unlike the scanty remains of the afore mentioned two hospitals of the same date. Remains include ruins of a dominating dormitory block (dorter) with overall internal dimensions of some 62m (north east to south west) by 8.45m (north west to south east) originally divided between men and women, the axis parallel with the river (Parfitt (1990-1991). Joining this range at a right angel on the south side was the substantial double chapel , which still partially survives and is in use. Somner talks of the chapel being 'decently kept, wherein divine service is said, sacraments administered, and Gods word preached to them of the house' (Somner 1703). On the north west side of the main dorter range were two (one largely still intact) unique late 11th century "rere-dorters" (necessaria I.e. multi-seat privies). These were set back approx. 5m from the main dorter range. To the north west of the southern latrine block lay another substantial masonry building, perhaps the kitchen. The double nature of the buildings at St John's Hospital reflect the original wishes of the founder that it should be for both 30 men and 30 women.

After surviving some 600 years, the medieval buildings were unfortunately largely demolished in c.1684. Correspondence between Archbishop William Sancroft and the Trustees sanctioning their demolition still survives in the Tanner MS in the Bodlean Library, Oxford. Since c.1684 the inhabitants lived in little houses (rebuilt again in the nineteenth century) around a courtyard. Only one part of one aisle of the chapel and fragments of the original dormitory and privy walls on the south (now the modern kitchen and refectory) are used in the present buildings. Recent survey work however has shown that two thirds of the northern privy block survived and was divided up to combine both the male and female privies in one building, presumably in the late seventeenth or eighteenth century when the hospital had far fewer inhabitants.

For the last 300 years the ruins of Lanfranc's buildings on the north have been neglected. Lean-to sheds were built up against them and gradually the ivy took over. By 1983 the ruins were in a very poor condition and heavily overgrown. Unsightly shed and garages encumbered them on the outside as well as rubbish and compost heaps, and an 'Anderson' shelter. Despite being largely buried in ivy, the northern privy building was still intact and housed two sheds (the uncovered northern end had been a bottle and rubbish dump). A survey of this building carried out early in 1984 by the Canterbury Archaeological Trust showed it still had elements of its medieval roof as well as all its late 11th century windows with wooden lintels. also about 900 years old) and parts of the seating for the floor above the original drain. This drain, which still has its four original round headed arches on the north-west, ran into the River Stour (channels from both privy buildings survived until the late nineteenth century and are shown on the 1874 Ordnance Survey 1:500 map of Canterbury. The north rere-dorter was constructed as an integral part of the hospital complex. Initially a large rectangular pit 3mdeep was cut into underlying river silts (to depth of approx. 5.4mOD) a little to the north west of the main dormitory range. Then lined with solid masonry on 3 sides. On the fourth, north western side, a series of five round headed arches, each some 2m in height and 1.4m wide were built (Parfitt 1990-1991 p21).

Above ground remains survive of all buildings except for the kitchen block, first revealed by excavations in 1990. Much of the ruins of the great dormitory building also survive on the north (a first floor was inserted in the later medieval period). Here too, uniquely early features survive including a corner spiral stair-turret, one complete first floor window and an original doorway, also containing original timber lintels that support a 'tympanum' area.

Occupation extending as far back as the roman period has been recorded within the grounds of the hospital. Roman pottery has been retrieved from the ground lying north-west of the hospital complex (Canterbury's Archaeology 1989-90 p20-22).Cartographic evidence suggests that houses flanked both sides of Northgate street in the late and post-medieval periods. Many were destroyed in the bombing during the second world war.

Survey of surviving medieval remains of the hospital complex was undertaken by the Canterbury Archaeological Trust in 1983-84. A decision was reached o consolidate the well preserved north rere-dorter. More detailed archaeological work on this building was conducted between January and June 1991 (Parfit 1990-1991 p21), (the ruins have been made County Ancient monument No.382).

The Structure is till in use as an alms house today.

From the Register of Scheduled Monuments:

Founded by Abbot Lanfranc in c1805, with St Nicholas' Hospital, Harbledown. It is the oldest hospital (Almshouse) still in continuous use in England. The main Medieval buildings were pulled down c1682 and c1774 but 15th and 16th century timber framed buildings in the gatehouse survive along Northgate (occupied dwellings). The S aisle of the late 12th century chapel is still in use. Ruins of Lanfranc's original buildings (a very long first floor hall) with doors, windows and spial staircase (half male, half female accomodation). Included in the scheduled area is the Medieval Kitchen in the NW corner of the courtyard, and remains of the 12th century latrines to the N of the hospital ruins, joists of the first floor and the base of the spiral stair leading up to it are visible in the ruined walling.(20)

From the National Heritage List for England:

List entry Description
Summary of Monument
The Hospital of St John the Baptist 160m WSW of Northgate House.



Reasons for Designation
A medieval hospital is a group of buildings housing a religious or secular institution which provided spiritual and medical care. The idea for such institutions originated in the Anglo-Saxon period although the first definite foundations were created by Anglo-Norman bishops and queens in the 11th century. Documentary sources indicate that by the mid 16th century there were around 800 hospitals. A further 300 are also thought to have existed but had fallen out of use by this date. Half of the hospitals were suppressed by 1539 as part of the Dissolution of the Monasteries. Some smaller institutions survived until 1547 when they were dissolved by Edward VI. Many of these smaller hospitals survived as almshouses, some up to the present day. Despite the large number of hospitals known from documentary sources to have existed, generally only the larger religious ones have been exactly located. Few hospitals retain upstanding remains and very few have been examined by excavation. In view of these factors all positively identified hospitals retaining significant medieval remains will be identified as nationally important.

Despite some disturbance and damage in the past, the Hospital of St John the Baptist at Canterbury is an early example of its type which survives well. It contains a significant amount of medieval upstanding remains including some well-preserved details such as the Norman round-headed doorway and window of the dormitory. Documentary sources indicate that the hospital had a considerable influence upon, and made a valuable contribution to, the surrounding community. It is thought to be the oldest surviving hospital in England. Some of the later almshouses are still in use continuing the function of the hospital to the present day. A large part of the site has not been excavated and holds potential for archaeological investigation. It will contain archaeological and environmental information relating to the construction, use and history of the hospital.

History
See Details.

Details
This record was the subject of a minor enhancement on 17 March 2015. This record has been generated from an "old county number" (OCN) scheduling record. These are monuments that were not reviewed under the Monuments Protection Programme and are some of our oldest designation records.

The monument includes a medieval hospital surviving as upstanding and below-ground remains. It is situated between St John’s Place and Northgate, south of the River Great Stour in Canterbury.

The hospital largely survives as buried foundations but the north-east end of the dormitory block, part of the chapel, the north reredorter, and a fragment of the south reredorter, are still upstanding. Furthermore upstanding remains of the refectory hall and kitchen are incorporated into a later 19th century building.

The hospital is T-shaped in plan with a double dormitory block, about 61m long, attached to a double chapel at a right angle. The dormitory is a rectangular building orientated north-east to south-west. The double nature of the hospital buildings reflect the original 11th century foundation for 30 men and 30 women. Extending south-east from broadly the centre of the dormitory range is the chapel, although only part of the south aisle is upstanding. To the north-west of each half of the dormitory block are two reredorters. These both have a central doorway in the south-east wall, which aligns with cross-passages through each half of the dormitory.

The upstanding remains of the north-east end of the dormitory block are built of courses of flint and sandstone with Caen stone dressings. It has been roofless since 1684 but the walls stand nearly to roof height. At the east corner is a spiral staircase but it no longer contains the treads. The south-east wall contains a round-headed arched doorway and a round-headed window. The walls also contain joists for a first floor hall. Externally there is a timber lintel on Caen stone jambs, surmounted by a plain tympanum and a semi-circular arch. The upstanding remains of the existing hospital chapel include three bays of the original six bay nave, restored in the 19th century. This chapel building is still in use and is completely excluded from the scheduling. The northern reredorter is a rectangular building constructed of flint with Caen stone quoins. Below the building is a large cess pit and on the north-west side are five round-headed ventilation arches. The main floor was supported on tie-beams above the cess pit and is originally thought to have contained 30 seats. It is lit by five rectangular windows with splayed jambs. Several contain the original timber lintels. Part of the south-east wall of the southern reredorter also survives. This building is thought to have been of similar dimensions to the northern reredorter. The refectory hall and kitchen are incorporated into a restored 19th century building which includes 12th century and 16th century features. It is built of flint with reused masonry and is three storeys high. The roof is of alternate bands of tiles and fishscale tiles. Attached to the south wall is a septagonal turret with blocked slit windows. The building also contains a 12th century arched doorway and a 16th century fireplace.

The Hospital of St John the Baptist was founded by Lanfranc, archbishop of Canterbury (1070-89), in about 1085 for the poor and infirm. It was part of a twin foundation together with the Hospital of St Nicholas, a leper hospital founded at the church of St Nicholas, Harbledown. St John’s Hospital was sited outside the north gate of the medieval walled city. The hospital precinct is thought to have formed a rectangular plot now broadly bounded by Northgate to the south-east, the River Great-Stour to the north-west, St John’s Place to the south-west and St Elisabeth House to the north-east. The hospital survived the Dissolution of the Monasteries and is recorded in 1674 as accommodating 18 Brothers and 20 Sisters. A large number of the buildings were pulled down in about 1682 and 1744. Several later almshouses attached to the hospital are still in use. It is thought to be the oldest hospital in England.

Partial excavation was carried out on the site in 1984-5, 1990, 1992 and 1996, and identified evidence of Roman occupation, part of the hospital dormitory wall and remains of late medieval properties.

The upstanding remains of the hospital dormitory and No.6 St John’s Hospital are Grade II listed. The refectory hall and kitchen to St John’s Hospital and the chapel are Grade II* listed.

Further archaeological remains survive in the vicinity of this site but are not included because they have not been formally assessed. (21)

Historic England archive material (22)

<1> OS 1:2500 1957 (OS Card Reference). SKE48200.

<2> MRH Eng & Wales 1953 261 (D Knowles & RN Hadcock) (OS Card Reference). SKE47435.

<3> Arch J 86 1930 280-4 Plan (GM Livett) (OS Card Reference). SKE36741.

<4> Arch J 102 1945 Plan (WH Godfrey) (OS Card Reference). SKE36527.

<5> F1 ASP 05-FEB-65 (OS Card Reference). SKE41940.

<6> DOE (HHR) City of Canterbury Kent Sept 1973 153-56 (OS Card Reference). SKE40007.

<7> Sussex Arch Coll 97 1959 131 (WH Godfrey) (OS Card Reference). SKE49770.

<8> VCH Kent 2 1926 211-12 (RC Fowler) (OS Card Reference). SKE50961.

<9> BOE NE & E Kent 1983 260-61 (J Newman) (OS Card Reference). SKE38215.

<10> MRH Eng & Wales 1971 317 350 (D Knowles & RN Hadcock) (OS Card Reference). SKE47438.

<11> JBAA 11 1855 32 (TJ Pettigrew) (OS Card Reference). SKE44862.

<12> Tanner's Notitia Monastica 1787 Kent XII 8 (Naismith) (OS Card Reference). SKE49809.

<13> Old English Houses of Alms 1910 32-33 (S Heath) (OS Card Reference). SKE47865.

<14> Biblio Topo Brit 1 1780-90 XXX 191-204 250-96 Plate 2 193 (OS Card Reference). SKE37648.

<15> St John's Hospital 1084-1984 CAT pamphlet Revised Nov 1984 (T Tatton-Brown) (OS Card Reference). SKE49612.

<16> GATEHOUSE AT ST.JOHN'S HOSPITAL AT CANTERBURY FROM SOUTH EAST. (Photograph). SKE2621.

<17> CHAPEL AT ST. JOHN'S HOSPITAL AT CANTERBURY FROM SOUTH. (Photograph). SKE2622.

<18> 16TH CENTURY ST. JOHN'S HOSPITAL, REFECTORY, CANTERBURY, FROM EAST. (Photograph). SKE2623.

<19> DOORWAY IN REMAINS OF HALL AT ST. JOHN'S HOSPITAL AT CANTERBURY FROM NORTH. (Photograph). SKE2627.

<20> English Heritage, Register of Scheduled Monuments (Scheduling record). SKE16191.

<22> Historic England, Archive material associated with St Johns Hospital, Canterbury, Scheduled Monument (Archive). SKE54601.

Sources and further reading

Related thematic articles

• Medieval Kent (Thematic Essay)