Monument record 1160/7 - St John's Hospital, Northampton

The hospital was founded c 1140, traditionally by William de St Clere, Archdeacon of Northampton. Documentary evidence indicates it was a substantial foundation; its income at the time of the Valor Ecclesiasticus (1535) was just over ,100. The hospital enclosure was c 1.3 ha in area, bounded on the west by Bridge Street, on the north by St John's Lane, on the east by houses and gardens (or does it extend to Cow Lane/ Swan Street?) and on the south by the town wall. A postern gate (possibly post-medieval) led through the defences to the meadows beyond. The hospital escaped the dissolution but was removed, and the buildings sold, in 1870 when the site was acquired for the Midland Railway Station. At that time the hospital buildings comprised a chapel, an adjacent almshouse and, some 60m to the east of the chapel, a master's house which was demolished in 1871 to make way for the railway station. The other buildings survived and were subsequently transferred for use as a Roman Catholic church. The original form of the hospital is unclear. It has been suggested that the master's house was originally a domestic range housing the common living quarters of the prior and brethren of the hospital and that there was a large conventual church in the area between the master's house and the surviving buildings. Documents of the early 14th century refer to the church being rebuilt with four altars, implying a building larger in size than any of the surviving structures. The surviving buildings are likely to belong to a refashioning of the hospital in the late medieval period, associated with a change in function from a hospice offering casual charity to an almshouse with a fixed number of inmates. They comprise a chapel and an almshouse. The former chapel has a Perpendicular west front of late 15th to early 16th century date. The facade is wider than the body of the chapel itself and it may be that the north and south walls have been rebuilt inside the line of the late medieval walls. If the Decorated east window is genuinely 14th century the east wall may survive from the earlier hospital buildings. The west wall of the former almshouse is 14th century but the building as a whole dates from the late 15th century. The building was designed to meet the needs of the hospital as defined in its late medieval constitution with a master, two co-brethren or chaplains and eight infirm. On the ground floor a long passage, 1.2m wide, formed the spine of the plan with individual chambers for the inmates opening off it. Halfway up the north side was an open hall and kitchen. Opposite the hall was a staircase, lit by a three-light Perpendicular window, giving access to two large rooms on the first floor, open to the roof, for the use of the chaplains. It is postulated (see above) that the almshouse lies upon the foundations of the south aisle of an earlier infirmary, the central and north aisles of which were demolished. The 14th century west wall of the almshouse, which is canted to follow the street line, may have been retained from the earlier building, originally forming the west wall of the south aisle. Although the master's house was demolished in 1871 drawings record its appearance. It comprised a six-bay range with a crown-post roof, replaced at either end, apparently of 15th century date. It is possible that the original 13th-century building had one large open hall and was the common living quarters of the prior and brethren of the hospital but was made a more conventionally domestic building after it had been appropriated for the use of the master alone. Both the Church Commissioners (1825, 809) and Wetton (1849, 80) state that there a graveyard attached to the chapel close. Wetton reports in addition that skeletons were found in his time in digging foundations for new houses. All Saints parishioners were apparently buried here in the post-medieval period but it is likely that there would have been an earlier cemetery attached to the hospital. [see individual records for separate elements]

{1}Hospital of St John founded c.1138-40; C14th documents indicate that it was a substantial foundation with an income of over #100 & buildings of reasonable size; unusual plan with late medieval chapel set back beyond east wall of almshouse indicates that hospital probably originally 3 parallel aisles acting as wards with chapel at east end of central aisle like a chancel; later the chapel was rebuilt on same site and the north and central aisles demolished; surviving buildings probably from later Middle Ages when hospital changed function from hospice offering casual charity to almshouse with fixed number of inmates; escaped Dissolution; in 1870 institution was moved from its ancient site which began to be used by Roman Catholic congregation; plans of hospital layout;

{2}Hospital of St John is on east side of Bridge St within walls of town & near south gate; buildings consist of chapel & hospital or alms-house & masters house; latter now destroyed; inclosure was 3.25 acres bounded on south by town wall & meadows beyond; on north by St John's Lane; on east by various houses and gardens & on west by Bridge Street; founded about 1137 by Archdeacon of Northampton; Bishop of Lincoln patron & he appointed master; original deed of endowment lost but still around in 1630; deed of confirmation by Henry II between 1157-62 also lost; its former existance shown by deed of Edward I in 1307; Constitutions given to hospital between 1235-54 by Bishop of Lincoln but also lost; its former existence shown by document of 1395; 1307 deed translation by Dryden; details of structure of establishment; grant made to hospital by Charles I in 1630 & translation of governing charter given by Dryden;

{3}Hospital of St John was founded in 1138 by William de St Clere, arch-deacon of Northampton; plans made in 1871 show that considerable changes have taken place;

{6}(Quoted by Dryden in AASR; general discussion of hospitals & their component parts & building arrangements;) "….The second kind is where the dwelling rooms for the inmates were as before under one roof but the chapel though immediately contiguous to the hospital was a distinct building and entered without; an example of this kind is found at St John's Northampton."

{12}(Quoted in Rambles Roundabout & Poems); "…The windows & walls of the hospital are old but it hath been altered in some parts by modern reparations." Dryden states that Bridges gives a list of the Masters known until his time;

{14}Hospital goverened by Master & 2 co-brothers or chaplains appointed by him; master appointed by Bishop of Lincoln; notes on foundation of hospital;

{16}Founded by William Sainte Clere Archdeacon of Northampton & brother of Simon Sainte Liz; general history given; repetition of Dryden's report; by end of C14th Hospital appears to have become wealthy & undisciplined; deed of injunctioned served by Bishop Buckingham upon Master & Brethren to ensure proper employment of finances & stifle monastic tendencies; by 1535 had come back into line of original intent; revenue still comparitively large; thus institiution was not disturbed by dissolution; accounts of greed of Masters during C16-17th; includes photographs of buildings;

{20}"…. A noble ruin…; it was founded in 1137 by Walter, Archdeacon of Northampton for the benefit of the poor and infirm persons & orphans."

{28}As a result of the devastation of the Black Death considerable laxity of discipline crept in; this deterioration was evidenced at St John's in the later years of C14th; the Bishop was obliged to draw the Hospital brethren back into line; details given; matters improved as a result but not to the satisfaction of the Bishop & in 1395 a new set of injunctions by which the Hospital should be governed were issued; details given; in 1459 St John's annexed the church at Piddington to the Hospital; details of nature of brethren given; in about 1354 the clergy of England were compelled to take an oath repudiating Papal authority & acknowledging Henry as supreme head of the Church of England; had to acknowledge validity of marriage to Anne Boleyn & to swear fidelity to them & their offspring; St John's declaration in PRO; details of various bequeathals; not only did St John's survive Dissolution but was treated with special generosity by the King's commissioners; details of holdings & masterships of Hospital given until the C17th;

{29}Dr. Wake reinstated as Master; Charles II instituted review of condition of all hospitals; various complaints about St John's arose including Almspeople not having been fully paid & co-brethren not having their wood allowance because it was being sold for Master's own profit; leases were being let without co-brethren's knowledge & all rents were going to Wake; details of these & other complaints given by Serjeantson; Wake pedigree set out; during C18th & first half of C19th history of the Hospital was quiet & uneventful; Masters were all non-residents; last Master was Richard Pretyman & was during his office that Charity Commissioners made their famous survey of English Charities which resulted in the 1836 Report; quotes from Charities Commission report given; in about 1836 attempts were made to build a Chapel of Ease with cemetery on Hospital land for the parishioners of All Saints; this was refused; later in C19th was purchased by Midland Railway Company; the income of the charity was diverted to the building of new premises at Weston Favell which was opened in 1879; details of Hospital Seals; details of wills; note upon Ralph the cook of St John's;

{}ORIGIN The hospital of St.John was founded in about 1138-1140 by William de St.Clere, Archdeacon of Northampton & brother of Simon de St Liz. LOCATION It lay on the east side of Bridge Street within the defences and close to the south gate. STRUCTURAL COMPOSITION The monument comprised an almshouse, chapel, masters house… grange, cemetery, - organise this by date showing additions over time a chantry in the chapel Originally the layout was probably… large conventual church etc …….In the late medieval period the hospital was refashioned when it changed its function from a hospice offering casual charity to an almshouse with a fixed number of inmates. This resulted in the unusual layout seen in post medieval maps etc….The precinct of the hospital was enlarged over time. In the 13th century this included enclosure of a street between Bridge Street & Crackbole St….grange and chapel .. Recheck the detail of this as potentially important re growth By 1610 the precint of the hospital encompassed about 1.3 hectares (3.25acres) and was surrounded by a stone wall. It was bounded by Bridge Street, St.John's Street, Cow Lane and the town wall. A postern gate led from the Hospital precinct through the town wall into the meadow. Plans????: monument plan needed with position of known buildings and suggested areas of earlier buildings What about the information from the standing buildings re the general layout? COMPOSITION Hospital was goverened by Master & 2 co-brothers or chaplains appointed by him; master appointed by Bishop of Lincoln. WEALTH??? In 1535 its income was just over #100 Relatively wealthy institution by dissolution CHANGES IN FUNCTION Refounded??? Or continued as a hospital, essentially an almshouse, after the dissolution.It was used as a military hospital during the Civil War (Foard 1994?) END Extinguished in early C19th…?

{33} the later medieval complex is known to have comprised an infirmary, chapel (fig. 2, 30), domicillary buildings, garden (Fig. 2, 26) and a refectory (Fig. 2, 29, which may also have been referd to as a grange, although this may be a separate building). The cemetery (Fig. 2, 28) attached to the hospital chapel probably lay to the east of the capel and infirmary, in an area now under the modern road and landscaped area boardering the junction of St John's Street and Victoria Gardens. The cemetery is reputed to be the resting place of some of the casualties of the Battle of Northampton in 1460, which was fought close-by, just outside the town walls and south of the river.

{36}In 1630 a New Charter was granted to the Hospital by Charles I; transcription given; Royalist Master was removed during Civil War; details of appeals & petitions by Master George Wake;

{37}Hospital founded in reign of Stephen by William de St Clere probably in year 1138; inquisition of 1327 states founded 189 years before; details of habits of brethren & penances undertaken; details of some grants given to St John's; early in C13th report given of deaths of beggars at gates in crush to receive alms & some slain by vergers; Mayor of Northampton sent in; other incidents & disputes recorded by Serjeantson; many references in PRO; details of land holdings; permission to Master to enclose his wood of Wulfeye with ditch & hedge in 1231; 1266 permission was granted to enclose a lane in Northampton called Crakebolle Street which lay between their church & grange; in 1286 further permission was sought to enclose open space adjoining their cemetery; at about 1305 Master & brethren became involved in serious difficulties & were all excommunicated by Archbishop of Canterbury & thrown into prison; nature of offence uncertain; by 1325 the Hospital was heavily in debt; early in reign of Edward III enquiry was held to examine recent encroachments; appears that Master had stopped up a lane between Crakebolle Street & the King's Highway called Bridge Street; in 1329 St John's received valuable benefaction in the form of a house on the south side of All Saints Church; in return a perpetual chantry was set up in the Hospital church to the benefactor; 1340 further benefaction received of considerable property to found a chantry & provide food & money & clothing to sick persons in the Infirmary & to the co-brethren;

{41} Until the beginning of the C20, the building retained a considerable amount of medieval glass. Much was sold at the beginning of the C20 and its present location has not been traced, with the exception of two shields held by angels, which were purchased by Sir William Burrell and set in windows at Hutton Castle, now in the Burrell Collection.

{42} Photos, sketches, measurements, notes, coats of arms, notes and sketches on coloured glass, newspaper cuttings, letters, map, pamphlet;

{43} As above;

<1> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1985, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, p.65+341-2 (checked) (Series). SNN77383.

<2> SERJEANTSON R.M., 1913, The Hospital of St. John, Northampton, 17/NO.133 (Article). SNN1131.

<3> Ordnance Survey, 1950s/1960s, Ordnance Survey Record Cards, SP76SE48 (unchecked) (Index). SNN443.

<4> 1953, The Archaeological Journal (110), 181-182 (Journal). SNN59424.

<5> TURNER T.H; PARKER J.H., 1851, DOMESTIC ARCHITECTURE IN ENGLAND, 109+155-6 (Uncertain). SNN56915.

<6> DOLLMAN F.T., 1858, EXAMPLES OF ANCIENT DOMESTIC ARCHITECTURE, 1-3 (Uncertain). SNN1118.

<7> Page W. (ed), 1930, The Victoria History of the Counties of England: Northamptonshire, p.59-60 (unchecked) (Series). SNN100370.

<9> Serjeantson R.M.; Longden Isham H., 1913, The Parish Churches & Religious Houses of Northamptonshire: Their Dedications, Altars etc., p.232-33 (unchecked) (Extract). SNN1080.

<10> Hamilton Thompson A., 1911, The Chantry Certificates For Northamptonshire, p.108-109 (unchecked) (Series). SNN1922.

<11> KEYTE H.W., 1918, ILLUSTRATION, (unchecked) (Uncertain). SNN56918.

<12> Bridges J., 1791, The History and Antiquities of Northamptonshire, p.456 (unchecked) (Book). SNN77325.

<13> Pevsner N.; Cherry B., 1973, The Buildings of England: Northamptonshire, p.311 (unchecked) (Series). SNN1320.

<14> Wetton, 1849, Guidebook to Northampton and its Vicinity, p.79 (unchecked) (Book). SNN1032.

<15> SERJEANTSON R.M., 1905, ILLUSTRATION, 101 (Journal). SNN56920.

<16> Poynton C.H., 1905, The History of St John's Hospital, 13/NO.101 (Article). SNN1126.

<17> BRADDON P., 1934, ILLUSTRATION, (unchecked) (Uncertain). SNN56921.

<20> De Wilde G.J., 1872, Rambles Roundabout and Poems, p.212-13 (unchecked) (Book). SNN1106.

<21> CHARITIES COMMISSION, 1837, REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONERS, 792-816 (Report). SNN56899.

<22> TANNER, NOTITIA MONASTICA, (unchecked) (Uncertain). SNN56875.

<23> Dugdale, Monasticon Anglicanum, (unchecked) (Extract). SNN32494.

<24> Hearne T., Collectanea (Leland J.), (unchecked) (Book). SNN56850.

<25> 1220, CORRESPONDENCE, 1/NO.66 (Uncertain). SNN56851.

<26> CLAY R.M., MEDIEVAL HOSPITALS IN ENGLAND, (unchecked) (Uncertain). SNN54582.

<27> CARTULARLY OF ST.JAMES NORTHAMPTON, 1025;F.239 (Uncertain). SNN56852.

<28> Serjeantson R.M., 1912, The Hospital of St. John, Northampton, 16/NO.132 (Article). SNN1129.

<29> Serjeantson R.M., 1913, The Hospital of St. John, Northampton, 17/NO.134 (Article). SNN1135.

<30> 1307, DEED, (unchecked) (Document). SNN57609.

<31> 1345, Uncertain, (unchecked) (Document). SNN57610.

<32> Smith G., 2006, County Tales: Story Behind the Building, (checked) (Newspaper cuttings). SNN107525.

<33> Carlyle S., 2012, St. John's Car Park, St. John's Street, Northampton: Archaeological Desk-based Assessment, p17 (checked) (Report). SNN108262.

<34> Carlyle S, Geber, J and Armitage, P, 2017, Medieval and later activity in the former precinct of St John's Hospital, Northampton (Article). SNN110927.

<35> Knowles; Hadcock, 1971, Medieval Religious Houses England and Wales, p. 380 (Book). SNN10192.

<36> Dryden H., 1873, Hospital Dedicated to St John The Baptist at Northampton, p.211-34 (unchecked) (Series). SNN1119.

<37> Serjeantson R.M., 1912, The Hospital of St. John, Northampton, 16/NO.131 (Article). SNN1128.

<38> Historic England, Undated, St Johns Roman Catholic Church, formerly St Johns Hospital, Northampton, BF111673 (Archive). SNN115602.

<39> Serjeantson R.M.; Ryland W. (Editors), 1906, The Victoria History of the Counties of England: Northamptonshire, p.156-59 (unchecked) (Series). SNN100369.

<40> Historic England, Undated, England's Landscapes, BF110930 (Archive). SNN114508.

<41> Marks R., 1998, Stained Glass Of Northamptonshire, p. 158-9 (Book). SNN101533.

<42> Dryden H.E.L., 1842-1895, Dryden Collection, DR/25/198/430-433,438,478,480,482,495,533-544,546-551,555-560,566,568-570,574,578,589,592,594,606 (Archive). SNN115.

<43> Dryden H.E.L., 1842-1895, Dryden Collection, DR/25/198/499,500,615 (Archive). SNN115.

Record last edited

Feb 10 2025 7:32PM