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

Probable site of St Bartholomew's Hospital; A leper hospital which was founded in 1141 by the monks Osbern and Godwyn of St Martin's Priory, Dover, and dedicated to St Bartholomew. It was dissolved pre-1346 and re-founded in 1346 for the poor, aged, and sick, being finally dissolved post 1547. (location accurate to the nearest 100m based on available information)

Monument Types

• HOSPITAL (HOSPITAL, Medieval to Post Medieval - 1141 AD to 1547 AD)

Full description

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

A leper hospital was founded in 1141 by the monks Osbern and Godwyn of St Martin's Priory, Dover, and dedicated to St Bartholomew. It was dissolved pre-1346 and re-founded in 1346 for the poor, aged, and sick, being finally dissolved post 1547. It was built for a warden, a chaplain, and 20, later 16, brother and sisters, the latter under a prioress. The inmates were under a rule, and those with leprosy lived apart. A piece of land called Thega (opposite the old Wesleyan Chapel) on the west side of the London Road was granted for the site of this hospital. The name Thega has not been traced. The Wesleyan Chapel is supposed to stand on the site of its predecessor; therefore the site of the hospital would seem to be on the western side of London road, close to the junction with Beaconsfield Road. From 1346 leprosy is not mentioned, and the hospital maintained the poor and nursed the sick. Poor and infirm, coming from ships, were received - net income c.1547 over eight pounds. (1-2)

Taken from source - Regulations for the brothers and sisters were laid down in great detail. Each candidate must be examined by the warden, must be of free condition, either unmarried, or with the consent of the husband or wife remaining in secular life, and must pay 100s. for admission, or more, according to arrangement, 6s. 8d. to the warden for his fee, and 3d. or a jentaculum to each brother and sister. He (or she) will be brought by the master to the door of the church, and will then take an oath before the warden, one of the articles of this being that at death he will leave half his goods to the hospital. The number of brothers and sisters was twenty in olden times, but ' now ' sixteen at most is sufficient, and of these the master, who should be a leper, is appointed by the warden, and takes an oath that he will administer the property faithfully, and render an account when required. The allowances made to the brothers and sisters are specified. No brother may go outside the house except with the leave of the master, and no sister except with the leave of the prioress; they are to frequent no taverns; to say 200 paternosters and aves by day, and the same number in the middle of the night; none are to sleep outside the house for more than three nights without leave from the warden; they are to have a round tonsure, and wear a black or russet dress; the leprous are not to live with the hale; and though they may have private property, they may riot indulge in usury. They are to have two proctors, one for Dover and the neighbourhood, the other for England in general. A priest is to be maintained at the cost of the house, to celebrate daily for the founders and to minister in the church; he is to hear the confessions of the brothers and sisters, and without the leave of the warden they may not have another confessor. Each brother and sister is to labour in the offices of the house rather than elsewhere, and at half the pay, except in autumn, when they may take four pence, two for dinner, and two for stipend.

Pope Adrian IV in 1158 confirmed to Godewyn, rector of the house, all its possessions, including 100s. Of land given by Gilbert de Gant. Pope Clement urged the faithful to be liberal to it, and Archbishop Theobald promised indulgence to benefactors, as also did Richard, bishop of Chichester, in 1252. Edward III in 1369 granted protection for the master, brethren, and sisters, begging alms. An early grant by Henry de Arcell' was made for a house to receive poor and infirm coming from ships. The lepers are mentioned down to about the end of the thirteenth century, but in 1346 the hospital is said to be a place where the poor are maintained for life and the sick are nursed until they are well, and leprosy is not spoken of. (3)

<1> A. Hussey, 1911, Archaeologia Cantiana: Hospitals in Kent Vol. 29, Arch Cant 29 1911 Hospitals in Kent 259 (A Hussey) (Article in serial). SKE32329.

<2> by David Knowles, R Neville Hadcock, 1971, Medieval religious houses in England and Wales, Md Rel Houses Eng and Wales 1971 356 (D Knowles and RN Hadcock) (Bibliographic reference). SKE6370.

<3> Page, W. (ed), 1926, The Victoria History of the Counties of England: Kent Volume II, VCH Kent 2 1926 208 (RC Fowler) (Monograph). SKE7944.

Sources and further reading