Kepier Hospital
Encyclopedia
Kepier Hospital was a medieval hospital at Kepier
, Durham
, England
.
, Durham
, by Bishop Flambard
as an almshouse
"for the keeping of the poor who enter the same hospital". It was dedicated to God and St Giles
, the patron saint of beggars and cripples. The first hospital chapel (now St Giles Church
, Gilesgate) was dedicated in June 1112. Other than the church, the original buildings were wooden or wattle-and-daub structures. Flambard endowed the hospital with a range of lands, including the manor
of Caldecotes, the mill on Durham's Millburn, and corn from fifteen of his villages. Godric of Finchale
was a doorkeeper of the hospital church before settling at Finchale
.
The hospital buildings (with the exception of the church) were destroyed along with Caldecotes by the men of William Cumin
, Chancellor of King David I of Scotland
, who claimed to be the rightfully elected Bishop of Durham, in order to prevent succour to the advancing army of his opponent, William of St. Barbara
.
at Kepier
, c.1180, by Bishop Hugh le Puiset with an establishment of thirteen brethren, serving around thirteen (male) inmates as well as travellers and pilgrims. Puiset bestowed more lands, including the village of Clifton, a lead-mine in Weardale, a peat bog at Newton
, and more rights to corn from the Bishop's villages (gillycorn). In order to further secure the finances of the hospital, Puiset granted a charter allowing the creation of the borough of St Giles, the nucleus of modern Gilesgate
, with many burgesses probably drawn from Caldecotes and Clifton.
Kepier was frequently bound up with the politics of the border country, with Edward I and Queen Isabella staying at the hospital on their journeys north. Kepier suffered from raids by the Scots, with goods seized from Durham in 1315 and the raiding of Kepiers' northern possessions.
's Valor Ecclesiasticus survey of monasteries. It was shown to be the richest hospital in the diocese, devoting 25% of its gross annual income of £186 0s. 10d. to almsgiving. Kepier maintained four choral chaplains and 10 inmates, and distributed doles to the poor at the gates of £16 5s. a year. Henry ordered the closure of the lesser monastic houses (including Kepier) prompting the doomed Pilgrimage of Grace
rebellion. The Master of the Hospital supported the Bishop of Durham in opposing the Pilgrims, but its (lay) steward Sir John Bulmer was executed for participating in the rebellion. Legislation of 1539 extended the suppression to some hospitals, which included Kepier, but spared Sherburn Hospital
and Greatham Hospital. Kepier and its lands were granted to Henry's Secretary of State, Sir William Paget
, although these soon reverted back to the Crown and thence to a succession of lay owners.
Lay owners of Kepier, the Heath family, made substantial alterations to the hospital site, including laying out of gardens and the erection of a mansion where the chapel and infirmary may have once stood. By 1827 this house had become a 'Kepier Inn' or the 'White Bear'. Kepier Mill survived until 1870, when it was destroyed by fire. Of the hospital site itself, the gatehouse is intact, the mansion survives as ruins, and the farmhouse is in private use. The site is now a Scheduled Monument
with grade I and grade II* listed building status. The West Range is included on English Heritage's Buildings At Risk register.
Many of the routes of travel between Kepier, Gilesgate and the hospitals lands at Caldecotes and Clifton—by now High Grange (in modern Gilesgate Moor) and Low Grange (in modern Carrville)—exist as public footpaths and bridleways. The tithe barn
at High Grange, used to store Kepier's corn, survived until 1964.
Kepier
Kepier, in the city of Durham, England, is the site of the medieval . It is situated on the River Wear, close to Gilesgate, Durham. It lies in the parish of Belmont.Kepier is notable as the location of the medieval Hospital of St Giles at Kepier....
, Durham
Durham
Durham is a city in north east England. It is within the County Durham local government district, and is the county town of the larger ceremonial county...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
.
Founding at Gilesgate
The hospital was founded at GilesgateGilesgate
Gilesgate is a place in County Durham, England. It is situated east of the centre of Durham.Gilesgate was originally the main street in a settlement associated with the Hospital of St Giles which was sited by the existing St Giles Church...
, Durham
Durham
Durham is a city in north east England. It is within the County Durham local government district, and is the county town of the larger ceremonial county...
, by Bishop Flambard
Ranulf Flambard
Ranulf Flambard was a medieval Norman Bishop of Durham and an influential government minister of King William Rufus of England...
as an almshouse
Almshouse
Almshouses are charitable housing provided to enable people to live in a particular community...
"for the keeping of the poor who enter the same hospital". It was dedicated to God and St Giles
Saint Giles
Saint Giles was a Greek Christian hermit saint from Athens, whose legend is centered in Provence and Septimania. The tomb in the abbey Giles was said to have founded, in St-Gilles-du-Gard, became a place of pilgrimage and a stop on the road that led from Arles to Santiago de Compostela, the...
, the patron saint of beggars and cripples. The first hospital chapel (now St Giles Church
St Giles Church, Durham
St. Giles Church is a grade I listed parish church in Gilesgate, Durham, England.The church was constructed as the hospital chapel of the Hospital of St Giles and was dedicated in on St Barbara's Day, June 1112 by Bishop Flambard to "the honour of God and St Giles"...
, Gilesgate) was dedicated in June 1112. Other than the church, the original buildings were wooden or wattle-and-daub structures. Flambard endowed the hospital with a range of lands, including the manor
Manorialism
Manorialism, an essential element of feudal society, was the organizing principle of rural economy that originated in the villa system of the Late Roman Empire, was widely practiced in medieval western and parts of central Europe, and was slowly replaced by the advent of a money-based market...
of Caldecotes, the mill on Durham's Millburn, and corn from fifteen of his villages. Godric of Finchale
Godric of Finchale
Saint Godric of Finchale was an English hermit, merchant and popular medieval saint, although he was never formally canonized. He was born in Walpole in Norfolk and died in Finchale in County Durham, England....
was a doorkeeper of the hospital church before settling at Finchale
Finchale Priory
Finchale Priory was a 13th century Benedictine priory. The remains are sited by the River Wear, four miles from Durham. It is a Grade I listed building.-Current Situation:...
.
The hospital buildings (with the exception of the church) were destroyed along with Caldecotes by the men of William Cumin
William Cumin
William Cumin was Regius Professor of Midwifery at the University of Glasgow between 1834 and 1840.He was the son of Patrick Cumin , Professor of Oriental Languages at the University of Glasgow, and his wife Rachael Baird...
, Chancellor of King David I of Scotland
David I of Scotland
David I or Dabíd mac Maíl Choluim was a 12th-century ruler who was Prince of the Cumbrians and later King of the Scots...
, who claimed to be the rightfully elected Bishop of Durham, in order to prevent succour to the advancing army of his opponent, William of St. Barbara
William of St. Barbara
William of St. Barbara or William of Ste Barbe was a medieval Bishop of Durham.-Life:From William's name, it is presumed that he was a native of Sainte-Barbe-en-Auge in Calvados in Normandy. He was a canon of York Minster in 1128. He was Dean of York by December of 1138.William was elected to the...
.
Building at Kepier
The hospital was refounded beside the River WearRiver Wear
The River Wear is located in North East England, rising in the Pennines and flowing eastwards, mostly through County Durham, to the North Sea at Sunderland.-Geology and history:...
at Kepier
Kepier
Kepier, in the city of Durham, England, is the site of the medieval . It is situated on the River Wear, close to Gilesgate, Durham. It lies in the parish of Belmont.Kepier is notable as the location of the medieval Hospital of St Giles at Kepier....
, c.1180, by Bishop Hugh le Puiset with an establishment of thirteen brethren, serving around thirteen (male) inmates as well as travellers and pilgrims. Puiset bestowed more lands, including the village of Clifton, a lead-mine in Weardale, a peat bog at Newton
Newton Hall
Newton Hall is a large housing estate in County Durham, in England. It is situated to the north of Durham, near Framwellgate Moor and Pity Me, and has the East Coast Main Line running the length of its east boundary...
, and more rights to corn from the Bishop's villages (gillycorn). In order to further secure the finances of the hospital, Puiset granted a charter allowing the creation of the borough of St Giles, the nucleus of modern Gilesgate
Gilesgate
Gilesgate is a place in County Durham, England. It is situated east of the centre of Durham.Gilesgate was originally the main street in a settlement associated with the Hospital of St Giles which was sited by the existing St Giles Church...
, with many burgesses probably drawn from Caldecotes and Clifton.
Kepier was frequently bound up with the politics of the border country, with Edward I and Queen Isabella staying at the hospital on their journeys north. Kepier suffered from raids by the Scots, with goods seized from Durham in 1315 and the raiding of Kepiers' northern possessions.
Dissolution
Kepier Hospital was inspected in 1535 as part of Henry VIIIHenry VIII of England
Henry VIII was King of England from 21 April 1509 until his death. He was Lord, and later King, of Ireland, as well as continuing the nominal claim by the English monarchs to the Kingdom of France...
's Valor Ecclesiasticus survey of monasteries. It was shown to be the richest hospital in the diocese, devoting 25% of its gross annual income of £186 0s. 10d. to almsgiving. Kepier maintained four choral chaplains and 10 inmates, and distributed doles to the poor at the gates of £16 5s. a year. Henry ordered the closure of the lesser monastic houses (including Kepier) prompting the doomed Pilgrimage of Grace
Pilgrimage of Grace
The Pilgrimage of Grace was a popular rising in York, Yorkshire during 1536, in protest against Henry VIII's break with the Roman Catholic Church and the Dissolution of the Monasteries, as well as other specific political, social and economic grievances. It was done in action against Thomas Cromwell...
rebellion. The Master of the Hospital supported the Bishop of Durham in opposing the Pilgrims, but its (lay) steward Sir John Bulmer was executed for participating in the rebellion. Legislation of 1539 extended the suppression to some hospitals, which included Kepier, but spared Sherburn Hospital
Sherburn Hospital
Sherburn Hospital is a medieval hospital located in the hamlet of Sherburn House to the southeast of Durham, England....
and Greatham Hospital. Kepier and its lands were granted to Henry's Secretary of State, Sir William Paget
William Paget, 1st Baron Paget
William Paget, 1st Baron Paget of Beaudesert , was an English statesman and accountant who held prominent positions in the service of Henry VIII, Edward VI and Mary I.-Early life:...
, although these soon reverted back to the Crown and thence to a succession of lay owners.
Buildings and Paths
The first hospital church remains in use as the parish church of St Giles, Gilesgate. No other buildings from the first hospital survive.Lay owners of Kepier, the Heath family, made substantial alterations to the hospital site, including laying out of gardens and the erection of a mansion where the chapel and infirmary may have once stood. By 1827 this house had become a 'Kepier Inn' or the 'White Bear'. Kepier Mill survived until 1870, when it was destroyed by fire. Of the hospital site itself, the gatehouse is intact, the mansion survives as ruins, and the farmhouse is in private use. The site is now a Scheduled Monument
Scheduled Ancient Monument
In the United Kingdom, a scheduled monument is a 'nationally important' archaeological site or historic building, given protection against unauthorized change. The various pieces of legislation used for legally protecting heritage assets from damage and destruction are grouped under the term...
with grade I and grade II* listed building status. The West Range is included on English Heritage's Buildings At Risk register.
Many of the routes of travel between Kepier, Gilesgate and the hospitals lands at Caldecotes and Clifton—by now High Grange (in modern Gilesgate Moor) and Low Grange (in modern Carrville)—exist as public footpaths and bridleways. The tithe barn
Tithe barn
A tithe barn was a type of barn used in much of northern Europe in the Middle Ages for storing the tithes - a tenth of the farm's produce which had to be given to the church....
at High Grange, used to store Kepier's corn, survived until 1964.
External links
- British History entry on Kepier, including list of Masters of Kepier.
- English Heritage information about Medieval Hospitals
- North East History Pages on Kepier and Gilesgate
- Northern Echo Durham Memories article including Kepier estate under lay ownership, 22/10/04
- Northern Echo Durham Memories article on Gilesgate and Kepier, 25/04/03
- Northern Echo Durham Memories article on medieval farming around Durham, 05/09/03
- City Council Heritage Open Day leaflet (pdf)