Building record 3980/19/1 - Jesus Hospital, Hospital Hill

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.

{1} 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.

{3} Extent of property from 1819 map.

{4} The Jesus Hospital almshouses were founded in 1571 by Owen Ragsdale. When described in 1720 by Bridges the hospital, for 12 old men with a master or warden, had a gallery and a chamber for the warden and a separate chamber for each of the old men. There were also four common halls with three men to each. Though having seen considerable alteration and extension in the 18th and 19th centuries, the Hospital is in good condition and survives fairly intact. It also has an excellent documentary record from the late 16th century onwards. It is listed and is worthy of study in its own right.

{5} Jesus Hospital Almshouses. Hospital Hill. Now OAP houses.

{9} Established in 1509. Has 4 common halls (or sitting rooms) with 4 bedrooms adjoining to each of them, a chamber over part of the building, a garden and orchard, divided into plots for the separate use of the principal and almsmen attached to it; and about 60 years since a separate house was built for the use of the principal.1849 - 18 almsmen - with a stipend of £15. 12s a year plus 2s 6d at christmas and on 7th August, annual suit of clothing and a gown, fuel and medical assistance. Principal earns £25 a year. Two nurses who lived in a cottage occupied by the charity have a pension of £22 a year. Annual income of the charity £431.

{10} Governors enlarged the hospital in 1833. 1894 there were 26 widowers in the hospital.

{11} Undated photo.

{12} Founded by Owen Ragsdale in 1591. He was a schoolmaster and fellow of Magdalen College. The whole foundation was originally for twenty-six old men.

{13} The almshouses are built of stone and the original south block is dated 1593. The northward projecting wings are both dated 1833. See photograph.

{14} Jesus Hospital almahouses, now old peoples flats. Built 1593 for Owen Ragsdale with additions late C18, 1833, 1840, late C19. Grade II*.

{16} Two photos dated August 1966;

<1> Clews Architects, 1980s, Database for Listing of Historic Buildings of Special Architectural Interest: Northamptonshire, 9/73 (checked) (Digital archive). SNN102353.

<2> 1976, List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest ("Greenback"), H13 p.48 (unchecked) (Catalogue). SNN100754.

<3> 1819, Rothwell Inclosure Map 1819, (unchecked) (Map). SNN100516.

<4> Foard G, 1999, Northamptonshire Extensive Urban Survey: Rothwell (Medieval and Post Medieval), (unchecked) (Digital archive). SNN100514.

<5> Ballinger J., 1999, Northamptonshire Extensive Urban Survey: Rothwell (Industrial), (unchecked) (Digital archive). SNN100256.

<6> , 1926, Ordnance Survey 25 Inch Map Series, (checked) (Map). SNN56006.

<7> , 1900, Ordnance Survey 25 Inch Map Series, (checked) (Map). SNN55975.

<8> Ordnance Survey, 1880, First Edition Ordnance Survey 25 Inch Mapping Series (24.08), (checked) (Map). SNN55941.

<9> WHELLAN, 1849, DIRECTORY, (checked) (Trade Directory). SNN39741.

<10> 1894, Kelly's Directory (1894), (checked) (Trade Directory). SNN39742.

<11> Photographs of buildings in Rothwell (Photographs). SNN113168.

<12> Bailey, B, Pevsner, N, and Cherry, B, 2013, The Buildings of England: Northamptonshire, p. 555-56 (Book). SNN111989.

<13> Seaman, BH, 1969, Field investigators comments, F1 BHS 12-AUG-1969 (Notes). SNN111907.

<14> List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest, DOE (HHR) District of Kettering, Northamptonshire (Braybrooke et al) 31 Jan 91 48 (Report). SNN112993.

<15> Historic England, JESUS HOSPITAL, HOSPITAL HILL, ROTHWELL, BF107141 (Archive). SNN115475.

<16> Miss June Swann, 1960s- 70s, Miss June Swann Photographic Archive (Photographs). SNN116665.

Record last edited

Feb 19 2025 11:49AM