Monument record BSE 048 - Hospital of St Peter's

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Summary

St Peter's Hospital, S side Out Risbygate Street, founded for the maintenance of leprous priests (S1).

Location

Grid reference Centred TL 844 644 (50m by 50m)
Map sheet TL86SW
Civil Parish BURY ST EDMUNDS, ST EDMUNDSBURY, SUFFOLK

Map

Type and Period (4)

Full Description

St Peter's Hospital, S side Out Risbygate Street, founded for the maintenance of leprous priests (S1). VCH says it was founded by Abbott Anselm near the end of reign of Henry I (1100-1135) for maintenance of infirm, leprous or invalided priests or in their absence other aged and sick persons. In its later history always referred to as a lazar-house, almost exclusively used for lepers by C14. Still in existence in 1551, but no terminal date (S2)(S3).
During the Plague epidemic of 1637, the hospital was used to accommodate the infected. (nearby in St peters Pit, the bodies were buried). The hospital was then owned by the govenours of the grammer school, who also were then in financial difficulty (S7).
January 1989: report of finding "lots of skeletons from leper hospital" during excavation of footings for `old peoples home', presumably private nursing home, several years ago. Further details in parish file (S4). Burial : Juvenile extended inhumation, head W, found in digging soakaway pit September 1979 at (see 'Not to be published on web' tab for finder/s and/or findspot/s). Further details in parish file (S3). For historical summary see (S5).
Former finds of numerous human bones in garden of St Peters Cottage and from excavation of various cesspits, drains etc, dug in garden confirmed by former building contractor, (see 'Not to be published on web' tab for finder/s and/or findspot/s)(S6).

Sources/Archives (8)

  • <S1> Bibliographic reference: Suffolk Institute of Archaeology. Proceedings of the Suffolk Institute of Archaeology. PSIA, 1, 34.
  • <M1> Unpublished document: Suffolk Archaeological Service. Parish Files. Parish file: site reports (S3)(S4).
  • <S2> Bibliographic reference: Victoria County History of Suffolk (Vol I 1911; Vol II 1907). VCH, Suffolk, 2, 1907, 134-135.
  • <S3> (No record type): Carr R D, SAU, Site Report, September 1979.
  • <S4> (No record type): Pendleton C, SAU, Site Report, January 1989.
  • <S5> Unpublished document: Anderson, S.. 1996. Archaeological Report: The Medieval Hospitals of Bury St. Edmunds. SAU, Anderson S, The Med Hospitals of Bury St Edmunds, unpub ms, March 1996.
  • <S6> Verbal communication: Personal communication. Lees T per SAU (CP), August 2000.
  • <S7> Bibliographic reference: Margaret Statham. 1996. The Book of Bury St Edmunds. 2nd ed.

Finds (0)

Protected Status/Designation

  • None recorded

Related Monuments/Buildings (1)

Related Events/Activities (1)

Record last edited

Nov 21 2022 10:41AM

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