Monument record 5081/2 - The Hospital of the Holy Trinity and St Davids Chapel, Kingsthorpe

The Hospital of The Holy Trinity lay to the east of the medieval village and immediately east of the main road from Northampton to Market Harborough. The hospital, founded in 1200 by St Andrew's Priory, consisted of a hospital building and two chapels; one of these, St David's Chapel, was already in existence before 1200, but was attached to the hospital on its foundation. The foundation charter provided for a master, two chaplains and six lay brothers and granted that there should be a cemetery for the poor and travellers and those lived therin and that any parishoners might have burial there if they had chosen to during their lifetime. The hospital was dissolved in 1570 and passed into private hands. The hospital building which stood to the North-East of the junction of Kingsthorpe Grove and Kingsthorpe Road, survived until 1928 when it was demolished. Building foundations and remains of stone coffins, reported to have been discovered in the gardens to the South and South-East of the hospital prior to 1897, are probably the remains of the Chapel of the Holy Trinity and the cemetery. The Chapel of St David stood to the South-East of the junction of Kingsthorpe Grove and Kingsthorpe Road and was converted at some time before 1893 into two small cottages.

{1} The hospital of St.David and the Holy Trinity, Kingsthorpe, was founded in the year 1200 by the prior and convent of St. Andrew's, Northampton. 'At that time there was a chapel of St.David at Kingsthorpe, and Peter, the son of Adam of Northampton, and Henry his son, gave a house adjoining the chapel to the Cluniac priory for the reception both of travellers and the local poor.' Bishop Grosseteste drew up statutes for regulation of hospital in mid C13th. The hospital was more usually known by the title of Holy Trinity, but the older name of St. David or St. Dewes was used also. 1451 reference to rooms above parlour & kitchen.

{2} Hospital of the Holy Trinity (centred on SP 752630), lay to the east of the medieval village and immediately east of the main road from Northampton to Market Harborough. The hospital, founded in 1200 by St. Andrew's Priory, consisted of a hospital building and two chapels; one of these, St. David's Chapel, was already in existence before 1200, but was attached to the hospital on its foundation. The foundation charter provided for a master, two chaplains and six lay brothers and granted that there should be a cemetery for the poor and travellers and those who lived therein and that any parishioners might have burial there if they had chosen it during their lifetime. The hospital was dissolved in 1570 and passed into private hands.

The hospital building, which stood to the N.E. of the junction of Kingsthorpe Grove and Kingsthorpe Road, survived until 1928 when it was demolished. Building foundations and remains of stone coffins, reported to have been discovered in the gardens to the S. and S.E. of the hospital prior to 1897, are probably the remains of the Chapel of the Holy Trinity and the cemetery. The Chapel of St. David stood to the S.E. of the junction of Kingsthorpe Grove and Kingsthorpe Road and was converted at some time before 1893 into two small cottages.

{3} Bridges writes circa 1700 that ruins of hospital and one of chapels still standing; in 1810 Baker writes that several small arches still remain in cottage walls; circa 1860 large arch & two small decorated niches still visible; in 1870 alterations made to structure & became private house; in 1882 cottages adjoining building on north side were removed & new study & kitchen & offices erected in their place; old hall & staircase on south side thrown into dining room; new front entrance made on west side; plans & elevations of house as it appeared in 1882; larger lancet window removed in 1897 when further storey added to south wing; buttressing with incised cross; sundial. Detailed plans & elevations of structure included from circa 1893 building survey.

{5} Kingsthorpe or St.Davy Hospital was founded in 1200 for a prior or master, two chaplains, and six lay-brothers, with three rows of beds. Sisters were added to the community soon afterwards. The hospital was dissolved c. 1570, the net income in 1535 being over £24.

{6} Hospital was probably on site of blacksmith's forge where part of building remains displaying circular arch with two trefoil-headed niches above; Arches consisting of doorway & blocked up window above; Decorated; probably part of chapel attached to St David's Hospital.

{7}Ruins of hospital & one of chapels still remaining & in possession of John Morgan.

{8}The medieval hospital stood on the east side of the highway from Northampton at the entrance to the village. It had been converted into a blacksmith's shop before about 1870, when it was turned into a private house; further alterations and additions were made at a later period but the house, thus enlarged, was demolished in 1928. The ancient portions appear to have been of the late 12 th century and included a wide blocked arch on the west side with two small lancet windows in the filling, a larger lancet (removed in 1897) in the west gable, and a diagonal angle buttress on which was an incised cross. Foundations of buildings, probably belonging to the chapel of the Holy Trinity, are reported to have been found to the south and southeast of the house and remains of stone coffins have been dug up.

Chapel of St David attached to hospital; situated nearer to Northampton; small rectangular building without buttresses; internally about 27ft long x 13ft 6in wide; plain continuous chamfered doorway at west end & east window of two lights; probably in C18th building converted into two cottages with insertion of first floor & modern doors & windows; roof covered with thatch but some of timbers may be original; other cottages later built adjoining & concealing both west & east ends; eastern gable & part of north wall still stand; rest destroyed.

{10} Plans & elevations including notes of The Hosptial of The Trinity; not clear whether these are same as published in 1897 as latter appear to be drawn by Dorman in 1893.

{11}Chapel dedicated to St David nearer to Northampton than main body of hospital & opposite site of old turnpike gate.

{12} Hospital founded in 1200 by Prior & Convent of St Andrew's in Northampton who on petition of Peter (son of Adam of Northampton) & Henry (his son) gave certain house near to St David's Chapel for reception of travellers & poor persons; foundation of hospital as given by Baker taken from manuscript in British Museum & varies slightly from that held in Cambridge; list of procurators or masters given.

{17} Foundation manuscript of Hospital of St David; translation in Baker;

{18} Latin charter of foundation of Hospital given in full;

{19} Details of 1535 survey of property.

{21} St David's Hospital sited at junction of Market Harborough Road & Kingsthorpe Grove on site of St David's School;

{23} Peter de Northampton chaplain of hospital from January 1297 to 1301; was also vicar of Holy Sepulchre.

{25}Hospital dedicated to St David & chapel nearby to Holy Trinity.

{30} The published site is occupied by an annexe of a Catholic School.

<1> Serjeantson R.M.; Ryland W. (Editors), 1906, The Victoria History of the Counties of England: Northamptonshire, p.154-56 (checked) (Series). SNN100369.

<2> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1985, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, p.309-10 (checked) (Series). SNN77383.

<3> Markham C.A., 1897, The Hospital of Saint David, Kingsthorpe, p.164-74 (checked) (Article). SNN477.

<4> Baker G., 1830, The History and Antiquities of Northamptonshire, p.43 (unchecked) (Book). SNN77327.

<5> Knowles; Hadcock, 1971, Medieval Religious Houses England and Wales, p.281 (unchecked) (Book). SNN10192.

<6> Wetton, 1849, Guidebook to Northampton and its Vicinity, p.89-90 (unchecked) (Book). SNN1032.

<7> Bridges J., 1791, The History and Antiquities of Northamptonshire, p.416 (unchecked) (Book). SNN77325.

<8> Salzman L.F.(ed), 1937, The Victoria History of the Counties of England: Northamptonshire, p.81-82 (checked) (Series). SNN100371.

<9> Pevsner N.; Cherry B., 1973, The Buildings of England: Northamptonshire, p.341; (unchecked) (Series). SNN1320.

<10> MARKHAM C.A., SURVEY, (unchecked) (Drawing). SNN2294.

<11> De Wilde G.J., 1872, Rambles Roundabout and Poems, p.13 (unchecked) (Book). SNN1106.

<12> GLOVER J.H., 1883, KINGSTHORPIANA, 25 (Uncertain). SNN2735.

<13> Ordnance Survey, 1950s/1960s, Ordnance Survey Record Cards, SP76SE3 (checked) (Index). SNN443.

<14> MARKHAM C.A., PLANS & ELEVATIONS & NOTES, (unchecked) (Notes). SNN59578.

<15> Whellan, 1874, History, Topography & Directory of Northamptonshire, p.230; (unchecked) (Book). SNN1002.

<16> 1280, CHARTER, (unchecked) (Document). SNN2721.

<17> CHARTER, (unchecked) (Document). SNN2722.

<18> Dugdale, 1823, Monasticon Anglicanum, p.192 (unchecked) (Uncertain). SNN479.

<19> Dugdale, 1846, Monasticon Anglicanum, p.770 (unchecked) (Book). SNN2724.

<20> 1962, The Chronicle and Echo, (unchecked) (Article). SNN54662.

<21> Northampton Museum Records, Notes (unchecked) (Uncertain). SNN126.

<23> Cox; Serjeantson, 1897, A History of the Church of The Holy Sepulchre, Northampton, 138 (Book). SNN72349.

<25> GLOVER J.H., 1883, KINGSTHORPIANA, 25 (Uncertain). SNN2263.

<27> Williams J.H.; Shaw M.; Hardy S., 1978-1984, Northampton Development Corporation SMR Secondary Record Sheets, M29 (checked) (Catalogue). SNN108.

<28> WRIGHT S., 1997, Kingsthorpe, Village or Suburb: a Study of a Northamptonshire Parish 1700-1931, (unchecked) (Dissertation). SNN63023.

<29> Hamilton Thompson A., 1911, The Chantry Certificates For Northamptonshire, p.111-12 (checked) (Series). SNN1922.

<30> Baird, J, 1969, Field Investigators Comments, F1 JB 04-MAR-1969 (Note). SNN111452.

Record last edited

Feb 10 2025 7:28PM