Monument record MDO490 - St John the Baptist Hospital, Bridport

Hospital for the infirm religious founded circa 1240 and dissolved in 1547. It was at the East end of the town next to East Bridge.

The Hospital of Saint John the Baptist was an Augustinian cell, similar to an almshouse with a warden/friar and brothers and sisters and a chapel. It was situated by the East Bridge, on the south side of East Street. The date of its foundation is not known, but it was already in existence in the earlier half of the 13th century and is mentioned in a charter of 1240. It had its own chapel, probably the Church of the Blessed John mentioned in a will of 1268. The first prior was mentioned in 1272, and a chaplain of St John the Baptist in 1409. An inventory of 1453-1545 describes the contents of the Chapel, Hall, Pantry, Kitchen and Chamber. The net income was over £8 in 1535; it was dissolved in 1547. <2> <5> Nothing now remains of the hospital, except what may be part of the prior’s lodging, which has been incorporated into Granby House, 124-128 East Street, Bridport.Nos 124 - 128 East Street, incorporating Granby House and the Masonic Hall, date from 1500 at the rear and from 1769 at the front, when it was opened as the Marquis of Granby Inn. The rear part, a remnant of the medieval Priory of Saint John or Hospital of Saint John the Baptist, retains a number of altered original windows including on the E side a projecting three-sided oriel window on stone corbellng dated around 1500 - mid 16th century. Inside the building a room at the N end has original ceiling beams and plates. <3> Hutchins mistakenly supposes there were two foundations dedicated to St John the Baptist in Bridport. <2> The Hospital of Saint John the Baptist by the East Bridge (sometimes confused with a priory at Bridport; was an Augustinian cell similar to an almshouse, with a master or prior, a chaplain, and brothers and sisters. The date of its foundation is not known, but it was already in existence in the earlier half of the 13th century and is mentioned in a charter of 1240. It had its own chapel, probably the 'Church of the Blessed John' mentioned in a will of 1268. The first 'prior' was mentioned in 1272, and a chaplain of St John the Baptist in 1409. An inventory of 1453-1545 describes the house and contents. The net income was over #8 in 1535; it was dissolved in 1547, and nothing now remains except what may be part of the prior's lodging, 16th century fabric incorporated into a house. <2> <4> <5>

Record last edited

Dec 20 2022 3:48PM