The Mediæval Hospitals of England by Rotha Mary Clay

HOSPITAL DWELLINGS “_He_” [_Lanfranc_] “_built a fair and large house of stone, and added to it several habitations for the various needs and convenience of the men, together with an ample plot of ground._” (Eadmer’s History.) The Canterbury monk mentions the foundation of Archbishop Lanfranc’s two hospitals. The lepers’ dwellings on the hill-side at Harbledown were merely wooden houses. The architecture of St. John’s was more striking: _lapideam domum decentem et amplam construxit_. The edifice (_palatium_) was divided in two parts, to accommodate men and women. As Eadmer was living until 1124, he saw the hospital shortly after its erection. He may even have watched the Norman masons complete it, and the first infirm occupants take up their abode. Before considering the plan of hospital buildings, it will be of interest to learn how they impressed men of those days. The twelfth-century writer of the _Book of the Foundation_ betrays his unfeigned admiration of St. Bartholomew’s. The hospital house was at a little distance from the church, which was “made of cumly stoonewerke tabylwyse.” The traditional commencement of the work was that Rahere playfully acted the fool, and thus drew to himself a good-natured company of children and servants: “with ther use and helpe stonys and othir thynges profitable to the bylynge, lightly he gaderyd to [p107] gedyr,” until at length “he reysid uppe a grete frame.” When all was finished and he had set up the sign of the cross “who shulde not be astonyd, ther to se, constructe and bylyd thonorable byldynge of pite.” Matthew Paris gives sketches and brief descriptions of three hospitals in his _Chronica Major_.[74] St. Giles’, near London—“the memorial of Matilda the Queen”—seems to consist of hall and chapel with an eastern tower and another small tower at the south-west (Fig. 10); of the _Domus Conversorum_, London, he says, “Henry built a decent church, fit for a conventual congregation, with other buildings adjoining” (Fig. 3); St. John’s, Oxford, he calls _quoddam nobile hospitale_. (Fig. 1.) The chronicler died in 1259, and these sketches were probably made about ten years previously, when the two latter houses were newly built. [Illustration: 16. HOSPITAL OF ST. JOHN, EXETER] [Illustration: 17. HOSPITAL OF ST. ALEXIS, EXETER] Two thirteenth-century seals depict hospitals at Exeter. Mr. Birch describes that of St. John’s as “a church-like [p108] building of rectangular ground-plan, with an arcade of three round-headed arches along the nave, roof of ornamental shingles, and crosses at the gable-ends.” The artist contrives to show not only one side, but one end, apparently the west front, with entrance. (Fig. 16.) The other seal is that of the neighbouring hospital of St. Alexis “behind St. Nicholas.” (Fig. 17.) The beautiful seal of St. John’s, Stafford (reproduced by the kindness of the Society of Antiquaries) shows architectural features of the transition period between the Early English and Decorated styles. The windows are triple-lancets with a delicately-pierced trefoil above; and an arcade runs round the base. (Fig. 18.) [Illustration: 18. ST. JOHN’S, STAFFORD] Casual references to building in progress occur in records, but they give little information. As early as 1161–3 Pipe Rolls mention works going on at the houses of the infirm at Oxford; there is one entry of over £8 spent on repairs. In 1232 timber was being sent to Crowmarsh to make shingles for the roof of the hospital [p109] church. Land was granted to St. Bartholomew’s, Gloucester, for the widening of their chancel (1265); it is of interest to compare this fact with the elegant Early English work shown in Lysons’ view. (Pl. VI.) There occurs on another roll a licence to lengthen the portico of the Maison Dieu, Dover (1278). The arrangement of most of these buildings is unknown, for frequently not a vestige remains. In many cases they grew up with little definite plan. A private dwelling was adapted, further accommodation being added as funds permitted. The domestic buildings were usually of wood and thatched, which accounts for the numerous allusions to fire. Even St. John’s, Canterbury, which was chiefly of stone, was burnt in the fourteenth century, but some traces of Norman work remain. (Pl. III.) In time of war, houses near the Border or on the South Coast suffered. The buildings of God’s House, Berwick-on-Tweed, were cast down by engines during a siege. The master and inmates implored aid in their sore extremity, declaring that in spite of all efforts to repair the buildings, the work was unfinished, and that they could not endure the winter without being utterly perished.[75] The same year (1333) the destroyed hospital at Capelford-by-Norham was being rebuilt. St. Nicholas’, Carlisle, was levelled to the ground more than once, and Sherburn was partly demolished at the time of the Battle of Neville’s Cross. The same story of attack and fire comes from houses at Southampton and Portsmouth. Before proceeding to any classification of buildings, some of the component parts may be mentioned. The precincts were often entered by a gateway beneath a [p110] tower. (Pl. VIII, XVI.) Sometimes, as at Northallerton, there was a hospice near the gate, especially intended for wayfarers who were too feeble to proceed; and an almonry, as at St. Cross, for the distribution of out-relief. The mode of life in different hospitals affected their architectural arrangement. The warden and professed members of the staff were expected to live in community. The master of St. John’s, Ely, was charged not to have delicate food in his own chamber, but to dine in the refectory. In most houses the rule was relaxed, and the warden came to have private apartments, and finally, a separate dwelling. (Pl. XVI, XXI.) In large institutions, the dining-hall was a fine building. The “Brethren Hall” at St. Cross (about 36 × 20 feet) consists of four bays, and has a handsome chestnut ceiling. (Pl. X.) The beautiful refectory at St. Wulstan’s, Worcester (48 feet × 25 feet 8 inches), adjoins another long, narrow hall; these buildings present interesting features—such as the screen, a coved canopy over the dais, and a loft from which reading was given during meals. The screen, gallery and oriel are reproduced in _Domestic Architecture during the Tudor Period_. The title of “minstrels’ gallery,” given by J. H. Parker to the screen at the western end of the hall, has been called in question; but as the same name is found at St. Cross it may be remarked that in such institutions minstrels were called in to perform on festal days, for the account rolls of St. Leonard’s, York (1369), and St. John’s, Winchester[76] (1390), allude to it. The hospital was a semi-secular house, and such halls were occasionally used for public affairs. Permission was granted in 1456 that the hall and kitchen of St. Katherine’s Maison Dieu, [p111] Newcastle, might be used by young couples for their wedding dinner and the reception of gifts, because at that time houses were not large. Leland notes that Thornton “buildid St. Katerines Chapelle, _the Towne Haulle_, and a Place for poor Almose Menne.” If the above-mentioned kitchen was as magnificent as that of St. John’s, Oxford (now incorporated into Magdalen College), a wedding-feast or civic banquet might well take place there. [Illustration: _PLATE X._ HALL OF ST. CROSS, WINCHESTER] The transaction of business was conducted in the chapter-house or in an audit-room. At Ewelme, for example, there was a handsome chamber above the steps leading from the almshouse into the church, and the audit-room at Stamford is still in use. The development of hospital buildings has been admirably dealt with by F. T. Dollman. In his earlier work (_Examples of Domestic Architecture_, 1858), he illustrates in great detail seven ancient institutions; a reprint with additions followed (1861). The subject calls for a more exhaustive study, which is now being undertaken by a competent architect. In this chapter nothing is attempted beyond a brief indication of the prevalent styles. Frequently, however, the original construction can be barely conjectured, for only a part is left, and that has probably suffered from alteration. Dollman distinguishes four principal modes of arrangement:— (i) Great hall—infirmary or dormitory—with chapel at the eastern end. (ii) As above, with chapel detached, and entered from without. (iii) Suite of buildings, usually quadrangular; chapel apart. (iv) Narrow courtyard. [p112] i. HALL WITH TERMINATING CHAPEL [Illustration: 19. ST. MARY’S, CHICHESTER] (a) _Infirmary._—The early form of a hospital was that of a church. A picturesque fragment of St. James’, Lewes, is figured in _Beauties of Sussex_;[77] the foundations remained within memory, consisting, apparently, of nave, aisles and chancel, the dimensions of the latter being about 34 × 15 feet. From an ancient deed in the Record Office, this building is shown to have been the sick-ward with its chapel; it refers to the “sick poor in the great hall of the hospital of Suthenovere.” Mention is frequently made of chapels “within the dormitory” or “in the infirmary,” and of beds “in the hospital on the west of the church.” The statutes of Kingsthorpe show how this arrangement met the patients’ spiritual wants:— “In the body of the house adjoining the chapel of the Holy Trinity there should be three rows of beds joined together in length, in which the poor and strangers and invalids may lie for the purpose of hearing mass and attending to the prayers more easily and conveniently.” [p113] [Illustration: 20. ST. NICHOLAS’, SALISBURY _Black._ Extant remains (xiii. cent.). _Tint._ Site of destroyed walls. _Dotted lines._ Probable arrangement of original buildings. _AA._ The Chapels. _BB._ Cubicles. _C._ Latrines. _D._ Porch. _E._ Old Hospital. _F._ Covered way.] The finest remaining example of such an infirmary is St. Mary’s, Chichester. (Pl. XVIII.) It is now a great hall of four bays, and seems originally to have been longer by two bays. (See Ground-plan, Fig. 19.) The hall measures over 84 feet, and opens into a chapel 47 feet in length. A wide and lofty roof with open timbers spans the whole building, the pitch of the roof being such that the north and south walls are unusually low. (Pl. VI.) The Domus [p114] Dei, Portsmouth, was of similar construction. Its thirteenth-century chapel still exists as the chancel of the Royal Garrison Church, the nave and aisles of which replace the infirmary, or “Nurcery” as it is called in one document. The early French hospitals were usually of three wings, as at St. Jean, Angers, built by Henry II. It is probable that the same design was commonly adopted in England. St. Bartholomew’s, London, had three chapels—besides those now called “St. Bartholomew’s the Great” and “the Less”—and possibly these three were terminating chapels of an infirmary. At St. Nicholas’, Salisbury, a double-hall opened into two chapels. (Fig. 20, Ground-plan.) Here there are some traces of Early English work, which can almost be dated, for an entry of 1231 records a grant of timber,[78] and Bishop Bingham completed the hospital before