Listed Building: Jesus Hospital (1288810)

Almhouses, now old peoples' flats. Built 1593 for Owen Ragsdale, with additions late C18, 1833, 1840, late C19. Coursed ironstone rubble with limestone dressings and stone slate roofs. Quoins, coped gables, grouped coped stone ridge and gable stacks. 2 storeys plus attics, 11 bays wide. Residential south range with adjoining laundry block linked to northern entrance by boundary walls, all enclosing a square courtyard. Southern range has to south a symmetrical front with central Tudor arched doorway flanked by single projecting blank gabled bays and eight 2-light stone mullioned windows. Above, 9 similar windows. Above again, a central dormer with mullioned window flanked by similar windows in the gables. North side has central doorway with, above it, a slate tablet with verse inscription, signed and dated 1721. Abvoe it, a crest. On either side, a single mullioned window. Above, 3 similar windows and above again, a gabled dormer with crested datestone inscribed "1593". Beyond, on either side, a stair turret each with Tudor arched doorway and mullioned casements and a 2-bay 3-storey addition dated 1833, each with 2 stone mullioned windows on each floor. This range has a boarded in queen post truss roof. Stair turrets have stone winder stairs with landings, square stone newels, that to east fitted with a cupboard containing a chained bible. The attic has an oak winder stair leading to a first-floor cell. Most rooms have beaded plank oak doors and chamfered spine beams. Western top landing has a late C16 turned oak balustrade. To the east, the single storey L-plan laundry, in matching style, has mullioned windows, paired ridge stack and ogee topped roof vent. To north, single bay mortuary. Northern entrance has a central Tudor arched doorway, 1593, with stepped gable with ball finials and frieze inscribed on the north side "Jesus Hospital ". On the south side, a crest. To the west, late C18 Warden's House, with plinth, first floor band, coped gables and 2 C19 brick stacks. 2 storeys plus garrets, 3 bays. Symmetrical south front has central C19 4-panelled door with overlight, flanked by single 10/10 sashes. West gable has 2 C20 windows to the garret. To the east, Matron's Cottage, 1840, has a coped gable and 2 stone gable stacks, that to east shared with the adjoining Home Farmhouse (qv). South front has an off-centre 6-panelled door with blank overlight, flanked by 2 casements to left and single casement to right. Above, central datestone inscribed "1840" flanked by single iron framed leaded casements. All the windows have flat arches. West gable has a central iron framed leaded casement on each floor. Jesus hospital was originally established as almshouses for 26 men.

Record last edited

Sep 22 2023 3:19PM