Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

Almshouses built in 1704 on the site of a Medieval leper hospital and hospital for the poor. This was extant in 1256 and survived the suppression. Single storey L-shaped building houses 9 separate dwellings of one room with kitchen at the rear.

Monument Types

• LEPER HOSPITAL (LEPER HOSPITAL, Medieval - 1256 AD to 1539 AD)
• ALMSHOUSE (ALMSHOUSE, Post Medieval to Modern - 1540 AD to 2050 AD)

Full description

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[TQ 5380 7411] Almshouses [NAT] (1)
The Leper's Hospital, Dartford, stood on the site of the present Spital Houses, near the middle of the hill on the entrance to the town from London. [Dunkin quotes Tanner as saying the hospital for lepers existed before 1330, and makes the point:] If that is so, then the inscription on the present building, which states that the ancient charity was begun and continued for several generations by the Horsmans of Horsman's Place is incorrect; there having been only one person of that name, Thomas Horsman, who inherited the estate by marriage c1420. The patronage of the Leper's Hospital and lands was transferrred to John Byer or Beer, who purchased the mansion and estates of Horsman's Place in 1541 . In 1704, the hospital was rebuilt by its patron Mr Twisleton, and the inscription [previously referred to] which goes on to state that the hospital was founded by John Beeby the name of the "Hospital of Our Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ, in Dartford", was put in place. As rebuilt in 1704, the hospital contained nine rooms each with an "butlet". (2)
Dartford: Here also was an hospital for lepers before AD 1330. Probably the same as that dedicated to St Mary Magdalene, and mentioned in the will of W M Quoyf, 1491. (3)
St Mary Magdalene Leper's Hospital - founded 1256. (4)
St Mary Magdalene - hospital for lepers and the poor founded before 1256 and dissolved in the C16th. (5)
TQ 5380 7411 Single storey L-shaped building houses 9 separate dwellings of one room with kitchen at the rear. Brick building with modern windows and probably original doors. Tiled roofs, original chimneys, cement coated. Date 1704 and inscription as reported by Authority 2. Correctly shown on 25 inch AM. (6)
No change. Buildings in good conditon. (7)
Additional bibliography. (8-15)

Four phases of activity were identified immediately west of the site: a prehistoric feature (TQ 57 SW 250), a 7th-8th century Saxon cemetery (TQ 57 SW 207), an 11th-12th century building (TQ 57 SW 251) and a medieval boundary ditch (TQ 57 SW 252). They were all recorded during evaluation and excavation work at the site of the former Holy Trinity School (TQ 57 SW 254). The medieval boundary ditch identified, could be enclosing land associated with the hospital [16].
Architectural heritage and conservation report of Lowfield Street, prior to redevelopment of the east side, concluding no physical impact on listed buildings. [17]

<01> OS 25" (OS Card Reference). SKE48250.

<02> Hist and Ants of Dartford 1844 201 202 204 205 208 212 214 (J Dunkin) (OS Card Reference). SKE43774.

<03> Notitia Moastica 1787 Kent xx.3 (Tanner (Nasmith)) (OS Card Reference). SKE47706.

<04> Medieval Hospitals of WEng 1909 297 (R M Clay) (OS Card Reference). SKE46862.

<05> Medieval Religious Houses 1953 267 (Knowles and Hadcock) (OS Card Reference). SKE46866.

<06> F1 ASP 14-OCT-59 (OS Card Reference). SKE42107.

<07> F2 ASP 11-SEP-64 (OS Card Reference). SKE43103.

<08> VCH Kent 2 1926 217 (R C Fowler) (OS Card Reference). SKE50963.

<09> Arch Cant 29 1911 261 (A Hussey) (OS Card Reference). SKE34965.

<10> The Buildings of England W Kent and the Weald 1980 259 (J Newman) (OS Card Reference). SKE50217.

<11> Med Rel Houses Eng and Wales 1971 319 (D Knowles and R N Hadcock) (OS Card Reference). SKE46797.

<12> Dart Dist Antiq Soc 1 1931 49-54 (F V Baker) (OS Card Reference). SKE39616.

<13> Field report for monument TQ 57 SW 48 - October, 1959 (Bibliographic reference). SKE3156.

<14> Field report for monument TQ 57 SW 48 - September, 1964 (Bibliographic reference). SKE3157.

<15> 1993, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX10721.

<16> Archaeology South-East, 1998, An Archaeological Excavation at Holy Trinity School, West Hill, Dartford, Kent (Draft) (Unpublished document). SKE12280.

<17> Purcell Miller Tritton LLP, 2008, Lowfield street redevelopment architectural heritage and conservation report (Unpublished document). SKE13714.

Sources and further reading