(NU 18053475) Lepers Hospital (remains of), Lepers Well. (1)

A Hospital dedicated to St Mary Magdalene, founded before 1256 for a Warden, Chaplain and Leper Bretheren. It was dissolved c.1376. (2)

From place-name evidence in a 17th century survey and on a survey plan of 1774, it is clear that Magdalene Chapel and Leper Hospital stood to the south west of Bamburgh, near Dukesfield. (Site shown on accompanying plan at NU 173342), where there is a well which was probably the old 'Maudleywell' (described as in the grounds of the Hospital, and the principle source of a mill-stream). The O.S. siting is erroneous and evidently influenced by a very confused account in V.C.H. Vol 1. (3)

There are no traces of antiquity in the area NU 173342 and the well there appears to be modern. (4)

Geophysical survey in 2004 investigated the field south of the Dominican friary site for evidence of the leper hospital. Several anomalies were recorded, including one suggestive of a building about 28m by 15m with at least one internal sub-division. Another enclosure ditch, 23m by 12m, lies south of this building; additional linear features may be associated with this enclosure and the building and enclosure would appear to be contemporary.
The presence of a possible building, close to the friary, but possibly outside the precinct walls, may indicate the location of the leper hospital. (5)

The hospital is known from documentary evidence to have shared a common boundary with the Dominican Friary site, or property of the friary. The second and third edition Ordnance Survey maps shows the site in a field off Ingram Road, but it is unclear on what evidence this is based. A survey dated AD1376 recorded the, by then, ruined hospital contained a chapel, hall, pantry, kitchen and other chambers in an enclosed site. (6)

Additional Reference (7)