Building record 1679/2/5 - Bede House

The Bede House at Higham Ferrers was founded in 1423 by Henry Chichele of Canterbury, restored in the 19th century. Built of square coursed and banded limestone and ironstone with an old tile roof. Infirmary hall with chapel at the east end is now largely restored. It is of a single storey with 6 bays. The interior retains original roof and fireplace. The building is now reused as a church hall.

{1} Bede house, now church hall. C.1428, restored C19. Squared coursed and banded limestone and ironstone with C20 plain tile roof. Hall plan with chapel at east end. Single storey. South elevation of chapel of one-window range with 2-light ogee-head window with panel tracery. Gabled roof with ashlar gable parapet and finial. 2-stage clasping buttress at corner, with gargoyle above. 3-light east window with renewed panel tracery. North elevation of chapel is similar to south. Window has renewed tracery and crocketted hood mould with carved label stops. Arch-head entrance to undercroft to far right. South elevation of hall is of 6 bays. 2-window range. 2-light square-head windows with transoms and cusping to second bay from either end. North doorway in bay to far left. 2-stage buttresses between bays. Ashlar gable parapets and rebuilt lateral stack. C20 single-storey extension attached to right of centre. North elevation of hall is similar to south elevation. South doorway in third bay from west end has moulded stone surround with 4-centre arch head, and hood mould with label stops decorated with rosettes. West elevation has central doorway with 2-centred arch head, and crocketted hood mould with label stops decorated with rosettes. 5-light Perpendicular window above with panel tracery, crocketted hood mould and carved label stops. Double-chamfered plinth around whole building divides and rises over doorhead. Carved kneeler to left side of gable and bellcote at apex with crocketted gable. Canopied niches with C20 figures, in sides of bellcote. Interior: hall has C15 fireplace in right wall with 4-centred arch head and hood mould. 5 Bedesmens lockers in left wall have C20 doors. Restored C15 roof structure with moulded arch braced trusses. Moulded and chamfered arch from hall to chapel has castellated capitals to responds. Ogee-head niches to either side of east window and ogee-head piscina to right. Undercroft under chapel not inspected. Bede House was re-founded in 1428 by Archbishop Henry Chichele. The foundation was for 12 old men and a woman attendant. Each had a cubicle and hall locker within the hall. It continued in use until C18. The chapel, which was roofless by mid C19, was restored by Earl Fitzgerald.

{3} Henry Chicheley (1364-1443), Archbishop of Canterbury, established a bedehouse in this, his native town. Upon an older C14th foundation, Chicheley instituated his bede-house in 1425, attatching to it a collegiate school. This high ecclesiastic, though he did not keep his hands from falling heavily upon the Lollards, must be credited with a genuine respect for learning. Besides Higham Ferrers, he founded St. Bernard's (since dissolved) and All Soul', Oxford. Croydon was one of the country manors of the See, and the noble western tower of the parish chirch is of Chicheley's building. He is the Archbishop of Canterbury of Shakespeare's Henry V, who is represented as encouraging the King's invasion of France, though there appears to be no contemorary evidence of Chicheley's part in that schene. The hall at Higham Ferrers has an open roof springing from oaken corbels and a large original fireplace on its south side, while an arch divides it from the chapel at the eastern end. This is thus an example of the infirmary type. The twelve bedesmen were directed by Chicheley's statutes to stand, each at his cubicle door, and join in evensong. The number of thirteen was completed by a woman who acted as matron with minutely defined duties. This house of pity still exists.

{4} This Hospital was founded by Henry Chichele, Archbishop of Canterbury, in 1423 for 12 men (the senior of whom was called the prior) and 1 woman attendant. The building is an excellent example of its date and follows the
normal medieval hospital plan of an infirmary hall with a chapel at the east end opening out of it.
The chapel window originally had glass figures and heraldry, but this part of the building became ruinous early in the 19th cent. and the present chapel is largely a restoration.

{7} Plan of crypt and measurements

{8} Documentary source. Medieval bede house hospital, founded in 1423 by Henry Chichele, for 12 resident men, 1 called a prior, and 1 woman attendant. Of usual plan with an infirmary hall with a chapel at the east end, and a raised living space with cubicles for beds and lockers, with a fireplace.

{12} Bede house c.1428 had chapel. This chapel was roofless by mid 19th century when it was restored by Earl Fitzgerald. The Bede house was re-founded in 1428 by Archbishop Henry Chichele. The foundation was for 12 old men and a women attendant. Each had a cubicle and hall locker within the hall. Hall plan with chapel at east end. Single storey. It continued into use until 18th century. Restored 19th century. Now a church hall. Former almshouse and chapel was abandoned and was restored in the 19th century by Earl Fitzgerald.

Archbishop Chicheley founded the Bede House in 1422. It was for 12 men and one woman and lay on the south eastern edge of the churchyard. The endowment included a garden, which is shown in 1737 extending south to Wood Street. The vicarage lay immediately adjacent and it seems likely that it and the vicarage were originally a single property, especially as both were associated with the Chicheley's College. Alternatively both were created, at different times, from a series of tenements fronting south onto Wood Street.

{?} Medieval bede house hospital. The chapel is largely a reconstruction.

{14} SP 9614 6848. Bede House [G.T.].

{15} Bede House - as described by authority {4}.GP AO 62/53/5 West face of Bede House.

{16} No change.

{17} Three undated photos, also photo dated 1992;

{18} Sketches of parts of Bede House, its chapel, and the crypt under the chapel, all with measurements;

<1> Clews Architects, 1980s, Database for Listing of Historic Buildings of Special Architectural Interest: Northamptonshire, 20/56 (checked) (Digital archive). SNN102353.

<2> List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest ("Greenback"), G07 (unchecked) (Catalogue). SNN41470.

<3> Hobson J.M., 1926, Some Early and Later Houses of Pity, p.31-2 (unchecked) (Extract). SNN104798.

<4> 1953, The Archaeological Journal (110), 110/192+193 (unchecked) (Journal). SNN59424.

<5> Dolman, F T, 1858, Examples of Ancient Domestic Architecture, /34-6 (unchecked) (Uncertain). SNN55271.

<6> Page W. (ed), 1930, The Victoria History of the Counties of England: Northamptonshire, p.263 (unchecked) (Series). SNN100370.

<7> Dryden H.E.L., 1842-1895, Dryden Collection, DR/149/2,17 (Archive). SNN115.

<8> Ordnance Survey, 1950s/1960s, Ordnance Survey Record Cards, SP96NE3 (unchecked) (Index). SNN443.

<9> Knowles; Hadcock, 1971, Medieval Religious Houses England and Wales, (unchecked) (Book). SNN10192.

<10> List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest, p.29 (unchecked) (Catalogue). SNN45409.

<11> Ballinger J., 1999, Northamptonshire Extensive Urban Survey: Industrial Period, (unchecked) (Digital archive). SNN4.

<12> Foard G.; Ballinger J., 1999, Northamptonshire Extensive Urban Survey: Higham Ferrers (Medieval - Industrial), (unchecked) (Digital archive). SNN100543.

<13> COLBECK J., 1737, Higham Ferrers, 1737 (NRO Map 1004), (unchecked) (Map). SNN100548.

<14> Ordnance Survey Map (Scale/date), 25" 1926 (Map). SNN112944.

<15> Seaman, B H, 1962, Field Investigators Comments, F1 BHS 23-MAY-62 (Note). SNN113373.

<16> Seaman, B H, 1970, Field Investigator's Comments, F1 BHS 16-JUL-70 (Notes). SNN111541.

<17> Photographs of buildings in Higham Ferrers (Photographs). SNN115452.

<18> Dryden H.E.L., 1842-1895, Dryden Collection, DR/25/149/5,7-9,11,12,14,15,22 (Archive). SNN115.

Record last edited

Sep 11 2024 12:11PM