Leper Hospital (Berwick upon Tweed)
The leper hospital of St Bartholomew at Spittal by Tweedmouth was founded AD 1234. (1)
A tower or peel, referred to in 1612 as Bathes Tower, was erected for protection in 1369. (2)
The Rev L O Henderson, claims that the lands of the hospital extended from Spittal Hall [NU 00165185] eastwards along the Tweed estuary to NU 00055200 and that the buildings of the hospital were in the area of Spittal Hall. (3)
Spittal Hall is now demolished; otherwise no further information. (4)
In 1238 an ordinance was passed that lepers were not to be allowed to enter the town gates of Berwick, and that alms would be colelcted from them 'in a proper place outside the burgh'. From the mid 13th century the approach roads to Berwick were gated, possibly to prevent lepers from entering the town. In 1369 a pele tower was built to protect the hospital from Scottish raiders. The hospital survived until the dissolution of the monasteries in 1535. The tower was known to be still standing in 1612 and was last mentioned in 1753. (5)
Listed by Dodds. (6a)
A tower or peel, referred to in 1612 as Bathes Tower, was erected for protection in 1369. (2)
The Rev L O Henderson, claims that the lands of the hospital extended from Spittal Hall [NU 00165185] eastwards along the Tweed estuary to NU 00055200 and that the buildings of the hospital were in the area of Spittal Hall. (3)
Spittal Hall is now demolished; otherwise no further information. (4)
In 1238 an ordinance was passed that lepers were not to be allowed to enter the town gates of Berwick, and that alms would be colelcted from them 'in a proper place outside the burgh'. From the mid 13th century the approach roads to Berwick were gated, possibly to prevent lepers from entering the town. In 1369 a pele tower was built to protect the hospital from Scottish raiders. The hospital survived until the dissolution of the monasteries in 1535. The tower was known to be still standing in 1612 and was last mentioned in 1753. (5)
Listed by Dodds. (6a)
N4135
FIELD OBSERVATION, Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Field Investigation 1955; E Geary
FIELD OBSERVATION, Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Field Investigation 1967; A N King
DESK BASED ASSESSMENT, Spittal Point scoping survey 2008; Tyne and Wear Museums
DESK BASED ASSESSMENT, Spittal Point, Spittal 2010; TWM Archaeology
FIELD OBSERVATION, Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Field Investigation 1967; A N King
DESK BASED ASSESSMENT, Spittal Point scoping survey 2008; Tyne and Wear Museums
DESK BASED ASSESSMENT, Spittal Point, Spittal 2010; TWM Archaeology
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