Monument record 2871/1 - St Leonard's Hospital, Far Cotton

A leper hospital lay at the south end of the bridge at Cotton End. Founded in 1150, it included a churchyard and chapel, the latter also serving as a parish church. The Lazar House itself was pulled down in 1823. Skeletons have been discovered in the vicinity in the late 19th century and in 1946.

{1} The Hospital of St Leonard was founded in about 1150 as a leper hospital and included a chapel and a graveyard which acquired semi-parochial rights for the inhabitants of the adjacent hamlet of East Cotton. At least one building survived until 1823. Some time in the late 19th century skeletons were dug up in the area and further remains were discovered in excavations for a new LMS railway workshop in 1946. These were presumably from the hospital graveyard.

{2}Leper hospital of St Leonard lay south of bridge @ Cotton End on west side of road leading to Queen's Cross;founded 1150;no extant description;[handwritten note on card says hospital was on east side of road not west;]

{3}The hospital of St Leonard was founded by Richard de Stafford in C11th; situated in Hardingstone parish outside liberties & on west side of road leading to Queen's Cross; Lazar House mentioned in Assembly Books from 1623-1823 when finally pulled down; little more than cottage at this time with only one recipient of charity;

{4}Leper Hospital of St Leonard in Cotton End;situated to south of town outside south gate;founded by Robert de Stafford;award of 1282 mentions of dwellers within precincts of house of St Leonard;in latter days Mayor of Northampton was always Master of Hospital;hospital also known as Lazar House;number of grants received by hospital in connection with land tenements;1 consisted of toft opposite church of St Leonard's Hospital;tenement in Coten worth half a mark per year; in 1550 chapel of St Leonard with churchyard was purchased by Corporation of Northampton by Francis Samwell;
Mentions a William Batman who was placed upon petition in Lazarhouse belonging to St Leonard's farm in Cotton End; at end of C16th property from lazarman consisted of small estate in Far Cotton [means Cotton End] known as St Leonard's Farm; consisted of 28 acres of lands without farmhouse but made up of half-acre strips scattered all over the fields of Cotton & Hardingstone; lists names of fields belonging to St Leonard's; hospital became known as Lazar House; by C17th lazar house was simple almshouse where old man was maintained; two occupants Robert Cox & Richard Hodgkins lived there until 1765; in 1816 old lazar house was pulled down by order of Northampton Assembly; list of lazarmen is given from 1586-1832; last recipient of charity in 1832 was Thomas Thacker who died in 1840;

{6}"..close to railway station is St Leonard's Bridge..& near this spot was hospital of St Leonard..";maintained master & leprous brethren & sisters;supposed to be founded by William the Conqueror & under his successors the mayor & burgesses of Northampton were patrons;houses in St Leonard's Street & Swinewell St mentioned as gifts to hospital; corroborated by gift of house in St Leonard's parish by Richard & Alice Atchinston between 1293-4;


{7}Account of legacies dedicated to hospital of St Leonard "..without Northampton.."; "....to church of Seynt Leonard without the south gate...."; includes repairs to church in 1513;

{8}Hospital of St Leonard said to be founded by William the Conqueror for master & leprous brethren & sisters;formerly stood in Cotton End on site of present blacksmith's shop;belonged to corporation of Northampton;revenue was valued at #10 clear in survey of 1535; Adjoining St Leonard's Farm was small tenement called Spital or Lazarhouse; inhabited by man in receipt of alms;

{9}Hospital of St Leonard stood in hamlet of East Cotton;founded for maintenance of master & leprous brethren & sisters;said to be founded by William the Conqueror; mayor & burgesses of Northampton were patrons;hospital had considerable possessions including properties by benefactions of several persons; list of legacies including details of property holdings;includes valuation at time of 1535 survey; Within district of hospital was chapel which functioned as parochial church to inhabitants; in 1281 vicar of Hardingstone claimed offerings & tithes of inhabitants of St Leonard's (parish); ruling on future status of chapel made by Bishop of Lincoln;

{10}Hospital of St Leonard in Northampton;founded by R.de Stafforde who was high Steward of England; given to Mayor & Burgeses of town;mention of value of land & possessions of hospital; States that hospital's church was not a parish church;

{11} Little house adjoining to west of St Leonard's Farm called Spettle House or Lazar House where poor man is put with allowances by Mayor & Aldermen of town; London Road is located on west side of it;

{12}Leper hospital of St Leonard founded about 1150 by Ralph de Stafford;lay south of bridge @ Cotton End which was also referred to as St Leonard's End or Wick; by London Rd so good spot for begging;had semi-parochial rights;was taken as charity into king's hands & granted in 1548 to Francis Samwell;corporation protested & hospital was restored; Following demolition of hospital buildings in reign of Elizabeth small tenement built called Spittle or Lazar House; occupied rent-free by lazarman with weekly allowance; appears in records as late as 1740; Lazar house was pulled down in 1823 but poor person maintained until 1840; in 1864 property assigned to support of Northampton Grammar School;

{15}Hospital of St Leonard founded in Richard de Stafford in C11th;situated on west side of road leading to Queen's Cross; Lazar House is mentioned from 1623-1823 when it was finally pulled down;

{16}Hospital of St Leonard on south side of town;hospital traditionally built by William Conqueror & conferred upon town;1st charter dated about 1150;grant of shop in market to God & hospital & sick men serving god there;2nd charter of Henry II granting protection to Lepers of St Leonard's with permission to receive alms; many gifts added & some details given;1295 reference made to parish of St Leonard without Northampton; parochial rights administered from chapel since its foundation; dispute in 1281 with vicar of Hardingstone claiming offerings & tithes; unusual arrangement to find chapel of lazar house in use for parochial purposes but may have predated use by lepers; sick probably had securely screened off area in choir or even separate & detached chapel; deed of about 1300 by which Burton Lazars grant to St Leonard's toft opposite their church in suburbs of Northampton;list of wardens of St Leonard's from 1282-1415;circa 1450 seal of hospital illustrated;barbican gateway possibly represented town gate on south bridge;C15th saw leasing of hospital with its lands & rents;details given;unsatisfactory arrangement & oath drawn up to deal with situation;inmates dispersed during reigns of Henry VIII & Edward VI;award of 1550 between mayor & burgesses & Francis Samwell who claimed ownership whereby chapel & churchyard to be used by town upon payment to Samwell;hospital demolished during reign of Elizabeth; Following demolition of hospital buildings in reign of Elizabeth small tenement built called Spittle or Lazar House; occupied rent-free by lazarman with weekly allowance; appears in records as late as 1740;

{18}Corporation records include evidence of land holdings;in hands of burgesses from earliest days;details of oath drawn up for sound management of hospital affairs in VCH p.160; engraving of seal of hospital;

{20}Mayor of Northampton termed master of St Leonard's with no provision for chaplain;valuation & allocation in alms;{14}Notes from other sources;no additional material;
{19}Sister of house of St Leonard in Northampton received royal pardon for death of chaplain;

{21} At least six inhumations were discovered during trenching along the northern edge of the Co-Op site on Ransome Road where it bounds the railway line. Extends to at least 40m back from the London Road. Burials found and reported by workmen. One burials observed during site visit at c6ft in depth. No accurate measurements as trench was unstable;

{25} No further information.

<1> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1985, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, p.292/Site 27 (checked) (Series). SNN77383.

<2> Ordnance Survey, 1950s/1960s, Ordnance Survey Record Cards, SP75NE20 (checked) (Index). SNN443.

<2> Ordnance Survey, 1950s/1960s, Ordnance Survey Record Cards, SP75NE20 (checked) (Index). SNN443.

<3> Page W. (ed), 1930, The Victoria History of the Counties of England: Northamptonshire- The Borough of Northampton, p.6+Vol.4/p.256 (unchecked) (Series). SNN100370.

<3> Page W. (ed), 1930, The Victoria History of the Counties of England: Northamptonshire- The Borough of Northampton, p.60 (checked) (Series). SNN100370.

<4> SERJEANTSON R.M.; LONGDEN ISHAM H., 1915, Journal of Northants Natural History Society and Field Club, 18/6-49 (Journal). SNN211.

<4> SERJEANTSON R.M., 1915, The Leper Hospitals of Northampton, 6-49 (Article). SNN832.

<5> Dryden H.E.L., 1842-1895, Dryden Collection, General Drawers (unchecked) (Archive). SNN115.

<6> Wetton, 1849, Guidebook to Northampton and its Vicinity, p.136-37 (unchecked) (Book). SNN1032.

<7> Serjeantson R.M.; Longden Isham H., 1913, The Parish Churches & Religious Houses of Northamptonshire: Their Dedications, Altars etc., p.233 (checked); Copy in NDC SMR File M31; (Extract). SNN1080.

<8> Whellan, 1874, History, Topography & Directory of Northamptonshire, p.266; Copy in NDC SMR File M31; (checked) (Book). SNN1002.

<9> Bridges J., 1791, The History and Antiquities of Northamptonshire, p.363 (unchecked) (Book). SNN100366.

<10> Hamilton Thompson A., 1911, The Chantry Certificates For Northamptonshire, p.110+132-33 (checked) (Series). SNN1922.

<11> Lee H., 1931, A History of Northampton, p.73 (unchecked) (Article). SNN42839.

<12> Salzman L.F.(ed), 1937, The Victoria History of the Counties of England: Northamptonshire, p.256 (checked) (Series). SNN100371.

<14> Williams J.H.; Shaw M.; Hardy S., 1978-1984, Northampton Development Corporation SMR Secondary Record Sheets, M31 (checked) (Catalogue). SNN108.

<15> Ordnance Survey, 1950s/1960s, Ordnance Survey Record Cards, SP76SE60 (checked) (Index). SNN443.

<16> Serjeantson R.M.; Ryland W. (Editors), 1906, The Victoria History of the Counties of England: Northamptonshire, p.159-61 (checked) (Series). SNN100369.

<17> Calendar of Patent Rolls, Edward VI vol.1/311 (unchecked) (Document). SNN978.

<18> Cox Rev.J.C., 1898, Records of The Borough of Northampton, p.329-33 (unchecked) (Book). SNN3420.

<19> Calendar of Patent Rolls, 7 November 1387 (unchecked) (Document). SNN978.

<20> 1535, VALOR ECCLESIASTICUS, 322 (Uncertain). SNN3270.

<21> FOARD G.R., 1985, SUPPLEMENTARY FILE, (unchecked) (Uncertain). SNN51856.

<22> SERJEANTSON R.M., 1915, The Leper Hospitals of Northampton, 36+39 (Article). SNN832.

<23> 1946, The Chronicle and Echo, 17 Oct 1946 (Article). SNN3349.

<24> Knowles; Hadcock, 1971, Medieval Religious Houses England and Wales, p. 380 (Book). SNN10192.

<25> Baird, J, 1969, Field Investigators Comments, F1 JB 4-MAR-69 (Note). SNN111452.

Record last edited

Feb 10 2025 8:06PM