St Leonard's Hospital (Denwick)
St Leonard's Hospital, Alnwick. Photo by Northumberland County Council.
(NU 18791438) St Leonard's Hospital (Premonstratensian) (Remains of). (1)
The hospital was founded between 1193 and 1216 by Eustace de Vescy for the poor, aged and sick. It continued as an independent religious establishment until 1376 when it was annexed to Alnwick Abbey Premonstratensian). It is mentioned in 1457. The hospital probably fell into decay before the Reformation (c.1535). (2)(3)
All traces of the building had been lost until 1845 when foundations were discovered when ploughing a field called Radcliff's Close. The ploughing revealed the foundations of a chapel and other buildings, carved stones, a holy water vase, an ancient well (Malcolm's Well NU 11 SE 3), a burial ground, stone coffin, and upwards of 20 skeletons.
The chapel consisted of a nave and chancel, the former being 22ft long x 27ft wide, and the latter 15ft long x 16ft wide; at the west end appears to have been a chamber 13ft long. Foundations of the domestic buildings are traceable near the chapel on the south side.
The building fragments are part of the original hospital, being of late Norman architecture. They have been built up by Mr F R Wilson architect to the Duke of Northumberland to reproduce, to some extent, features of the original building. (3)
The remains of the chapel have been reconstructed and as such do not constitute an antiquity except that a plinth course on the south side at ground level may be original. The foundations to the south of the chapel are in the form of a sub-divided rectangular building measuring 30m x 6m with grass covered walling 1m wide and 0.3m high. (4)
The field name 'Radcliff's Close' could not be authenticated during field investigation. Tithe and Estate maps were consulted. (5)
Condition unchanged. Foundations of domestic buildings on south side surveyed at 1:2500. (6)
Hospital of St Leonard founded by Eustace de Vescy for Malcolm III, slain in 1093. The stones found in June 1845 were rebuilt for the Duke of Northumberland by Anthony Salvin. (7)
Partial reconstruction c.1848 using original stones. Excavated in 1975 to look at the reconstruction and determine how much of the original medieval structure remained. (8)
Hospital ruins of about 1200, re-erected about 1845. (9)
Scheduled. St Leonard's Hospital lies within the Alnwick Castle Registered Park and Garden Grade I and the chapel is a listed building Grade II. (9)
Ruins of St Leonard's Hospital. Grade II. (10a)
NU 188 144. St Leonard's Hospital, Alnwick. Scheduled No ND/58. (10b)
Additional Reference (10c)
Additional references. (10d-e).
General association with HER 4505 (Alnwick Abbey). (10)
The hospital was founded between 1193 and 1216 by Eustace de Vescy for the poor, aged and sick. It continued as an independent religious establishment until 1376 when it was annexed to Alnwick Abbey Premonstratensian). It is mentioned in 1457. The hospital probably fell into decay before the Reformation (c.1535). (2)(3)
All traces of the building had been lost until 1845 when foundations were discovered when ploughing a field called Radcliff's Close. The ploughing revealed the foundations of a chapel and other buildings, carved stones, a holy water vase, an ancient well (Malcolm's Well NU 11 SE 3), a burial ground, stone coffin, and upwards of 20 skeletons.
The chapel consisted of a nave and chancel, the former being 22ft long x 27ft wide, and the latter 15ft long x 16ft wide; at the west end appears to have been a chamber 13ft long. Foundations of the domestic buildings are traceable near the chapel on the south side.
The building fragments are part of the original hospital, being of late Norman architecture. They have been built up by Mr F R Wilson architect to the Duke of Northumberland to reproduce, to some extent, features of the original building. (3)
The remains of the chapel have been reconstructed and as such do not constitute an antiquity except that a plinth course on the south side at ground level may be original. The foundations to the south of the chapel are in the form of a sub-divided rectangular building measuring 30m x 6m with grass covered walling 1m wide and 0.3m high. (4)
The field name 'Radcliff's Close' could not be authenticated during field investigation. Tithe and Estate maps were consulted. (5)
Condition unchanged. Foundations of domestic buildings on south side surveyed at 1:2500. (6)
Hospital of St Leonard founded by Eustace de Vescy for Malcolm III, slain in 1093. The stones found in June 1845 were rebuilt for the Duke of Northumberland by Anthony Salvin. (7)
Partial reconstruction c.1848 using original stones. Excavated in 1975 to look at the reconstruction and determine how much of the original medieval structure remained. (8)
Hospital ruins of about 1200, re-erected about 1845. (9)
Scheduled. St Leonard's Hospital lies within the Alnwick Castle Registered Park and Garden Grade I and the chapel is a listed building Grade II. (9)
Ruins of St Leonard's Hospital. Grade II. (10a)
NU 188 144. St Leonard's Hospital, Alnwick. Scheduled No ND/58. (10b)
Additional Reference (10c)
Additional references. (10d-e).
General association with HER 4505 (Alnwick Abbey). (10)
N4490
FIELD OBSERVATION, Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Field Investigation 1955; J H Ostridge
FIELD OBSERVATION, Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Field Investigation 1970; B H Pritchard
EXCAVATION, Excavation at St Leonard's Hospital, Alnwick 1976; PATTINSON, T
FIELD OBSERVATION, Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Field Investigation 1970; B H Pritchard
EXCAVATION, Excavation at St Leonard's Hospital, Alnwick 1976; PATTINSON, T
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