Monument record 1255/1 - Hospital of St John the Baptist

Leper hospital founded before 1240 and ruinous by 1353. A chapel is documented as attached in 1352. The exact site is uncertain, though the hospital reportedly stood adjacent to a stone bridge across the Ouse. The site has also been identified with the hermitage and free chapel in Old Stratford mentioned in 1620.

{1}The chapel of the hospital of St. John Upon the causeway leading to the bridge at Stony Stratford mentioned by Bishop Tanner (a) may with little hesitation be identified with the hermitage and free
chapel in Old Stratford, the site of which is mentioned in 1620. (Site therefore in area SP 780411)

{2} OS suggests probably to be identified with hermitage & free chapel in Old Stratford mentioned in 1620; therefore in area sp780411.

{3} Dedication: St John.

{4} The earliest recorded building in Old Stratford is the Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem, which appears to have been located near the north end of the bridge over the Great Ouse.

{5} There was a leper hospital dedicated to St John the Baptist, adjacent to the stone bridge across the Ouse, mentioned by Camden in 1594. A chapel was attached to the hospital in 1352 but there is evidence that the hospital did not survive the Black Death. The exact site of the hospital has been the cause of much conjecture, but it seems likely that it was on the Northamptonshire side of the river at Old Stratford.

{6} Hospital of St John Baptist, founded c.1240 and dissolved c.1353.

{7} "In this part of Stoney Stratford, called Bridge End in the 16th c. from its proximity to the bridge spanning the Ouse, stood the leper hospital of St. John the Baptist without Stony Stratford. It was
described in the 14th c. as situated near 'le Shrob' and the causeway leading to the bridge

{8} It was not possible to site this hospital

<1> Baker G., 1830, The History and Antiquities of Northamptonshire, p.137 (unchecked) (Book). SNN77328.

<2> Ordnance Survey, 1950s/1960s, Ordnance Survey Record Cards, SP74SE9 (unchecked) (Index). SNN443.

<3> TANNER, NOTITIA MONASTICA, /31 (unchecked) (Uncertain). SNN27446.

<4> Woodfield P., 2005, The Whittlewood Project: Historic Buildings Survey, Passenham with Old Stratford, (part checked) (Report). SNN105033.

<5> Gould, J, 1965, Wolverton and District Archaeological Society newsletter, p. 8-10 (Newsletter). SNN112268.

<6> Knowles; Hadcock, 1971, Medieval Religious Houses England and Wales, p.309 (Book). SNN10192.

<7> Salzman L.F.(ed), 1937, The Victoria History of the Counties of England: Northamptonshire, p. 476 (Series). SNN100371.

<8> Baird, J, 1969, Field Investigators Comments, 07/MAY (Note). SNN111452.

Record last edited

Feb 10 2025 8:01PM