Monument record 2416/62/1 - Possible Almshouse, St Mary's Gild

Site of an almshouse, founded in 1485 and dissolved in circa 1557, also a guildhouse. It stood on the South side of the churchyard and had a room over for the brotherhood of the church and a lodging to the West for 2 chantry priests.

A hospital of almshouse type in Oundle was founded in 1485 and dissolved after 1545(?){1}. It was known as the Gild of St Mary in the parish church of Oundle; the gild-house stood in the churchyard on the south side of Oundle church (TL 0419 8818) {6}. It was still used when Leland saw it as an almshouse, and the building was extant in 1557 . Date of foundation: Leland's date, "1485 as I remember"{3} is in error, whence also Wallcott{7} and Knowles and Hadcock {1}. The date is clearly 1499 {5}.

{2} It was known as the Gild of St Mary, and stood on the south side of Oundle churchyard.

{3} The building was still in use when Leland saw it.

{4} It had a hall over it for the brothers of the church, and lodgings to the west for two priests.

{5} Documentary references to the medieval/post medieval hospital/almshouse founded in 1499.

{8} Extant in 1557.

<1> Knowles; Hadcock, 1971, Medieval Religious Houses England and Wales, p.383 (checked) (Book). SNN10192.

<2> Ordnance Survey, 1950s/1960s, Ordnance Survey Record Cards, TL08NW27 (checked) (Index). SNN443.

<3> HEARNE T., 1744, Collectanea (Leland J.), p.4 (unchecked) (Series). SNN7026.

<4> Steane J., 1974, The Northamptonshire Landscape, p.158 (unchecked) (Book). SNN5137.

<5> Calendar of Patent Rolls, 1494-1509/179 (unchecked) (Document). SNN978.

<6> Page W. (ed), 1930, The Victoria History of the Counties of England: Northamptonshire, p.88+99 (unchecked) (Series). SNN100370.

<7> WALCOTT, 1879, English Minsters, p.271 (unchecked) (Report). SNN47120.

<8> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1982, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, p.166/Site 10 (checked) (Series). SNN77382.

Record last edited

Jun 2 2023 3:05PM