Monument record BCC 006 - St Mary's chapel and hospital/St Mary's Flats

A chapel and leper hospital dedicated to St Mary Magdalen stood on the W side of Ballygate Street, Beccles on a site now known as St Mary's Hill, near Leman's School. It was first mentioned in 1267 and was still maintaining the poor in the C17. Messent stated that the original buildings have been demolished, but re-used materials may be seen in some walls in the vicinity. The present St Mary's (House) is early C19 according to DOE and there appears to be no earlier work incorporated in it (S2).
Letter to John Wymer as Secretary SIA from Beccles Society (Chairman Doctor E S Nicholson) 10 May 1979, says suggestion from Right Reverend Abbot Aelred Watkin that leper house built on site of an earlier earthwork. Asking for help with exploratory dig since low on SAU's priorities (S4). Excavation apparently carried out in May 1979 before the building of five bungalows on the site, and report was published by Paul Durbidge. Human skull found 27 August 1980 by workmen digging trench for gas pipe. Excavation found reinterred bones and undisturbed burial. No dateable evidence. Site report written by Adrian Pye, Field Officer Lowestoft Archaeological Society, 27 August 1980. Includes sketch plans and sections (S5)(S8).
File note from R D Carr 12 November 1983, report of further development to NE. Visited, topsoil stripped but very badly smeared/tracked over, nothing visible in plan and no early finds. Not considered worth second visit (S7).
Not the same chapel as BCC 009.