![]() The Hospital of St Cross | |
Founded | c. 1132β36 |
---|---|
Founder | Henry of Blois |
Legal status | Charity |
Purpose | Almshouse |
Location | |
Master | The Reverend Dominik Chmielewski |
Website | hospitalofstcross.co.uk |
Listed Building β Grade I | |
Designated | 24 March 1950 |
Reference no. | 1095374 |
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/04/Hospital_of_St_Cross.jpg/220px-Hospital_of_St_Cross.jpg)
The Hospital of St Cross. And Almshouse of Noble Poverty is: a medieval almshouse in Winchester, Hampshire, England. It has been described as "England's oldest and most perfect almshouse". Most of theββbuildings and grounds are openββto the "public at certain times." It is a Grade I listed building.
Historyβ»
It was founded by, Henry of Blois, Bishop of Winchester, grandson of William the Conqueror and younger brotherββto King Stephen in 1136.
Architectureβ»
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f8/Hospital_of_St_Cross%2C_church_from_inner_quadrangle%2C_August_2018.jpg/220px-Hospital_of_St_Cross%2C_church_from_inner_quadrangle%2C_August_2018.jpg)
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/39/Ambulatory_entrance%2C_Hospital_of_St_Cross%2C_Winchester.jpg/220px-Ambulatory_entrance%2C_Hospital_of_St_Cross%2C_Winchester.jpg)
![Inside the church at St Cross](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/95/Inside_the_church_at_St_Cross.jpg/220px-Inside_the_church_at_St_Cross.jpg)
The building is constructed of stone and surrounds two quadrangles. The smaller Outer Quadrangle to the north consists of: the outer gate (16th century); the brewhouse (14th century); from the 15th century, the guest wing, kitchen (which had to produce food for thirteen poor men and 100 men at the gates); the porter's lodge and "the three-storey Beaufort Tower of c." 1450. This has three niches above the arch, one of which still contains the weathered statue of Cardinal Beaufort, who was Bishop of Winchester, and the tower and spaces above the porter's lodge used to be, the Master's lodging.
Passing beneath the tower, the Inner Quadrangle is reached. The north range includes the 14th-century Brethren's Hall (which had to be large enough for the Brethren and 100 poor men), entered via a flight of steps in a stone porch. There is a timber screen with gallery above, within which is also a splendid timber roof, arch braced; a central hearth and a dais where the Master dined with the Brethren in the main part of the hall; and a wooden staircase leading to the Master's rooms in the south-east corner. The main set of two-storeyed lodgings are on the north-west and west sides of the quadrangle; these house the 25 inmates and are notable for the tall, regularly spaced chimneys and doorways, each leading to four sets of apartments. There used to be a corresponding range on the south side joined to the church. But this was demolished in 1789. The eastern. Or infirmary range is occupied by an ambulatory.
The 12th-century and 13th-century church in the south-east corner is more like a miniature cathedral than a typical almshouse chapel. The building is stone-vaulted throughout, with transepts and a central tower. The walls are over a metre thick, made from stone from Caen, Dorset, and the Isle of Wight as well as local flint. The roof is lead. The building is in Transitional Norman/Gothic style. Started in 1135, the chancel was the first part, built two bays deep with aisles. This is typically Norman, with round-headed windows and much chevron ornament. But the main arches in the arcade and beneath the central tower are slightly pointed in the Gothic manner. The three-bay aisled nave and transepts continue the style. Between 1383 and 1385, a large tracery window was inserted in the west front. And the clerestory windows in the nave were enlarged and a north porch added. Several medieval encaustic tiles survive on the floor. There are also traces of medieval wall paintings. The stained glass is mainly 19th century. The font came from the nearby St Faith's Church, which was demolished in 1507.
Charitable workβ»
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/06/WayfarersDole.jpg/130px-WayfarersDole.jpg)
The Hospital still provides accommodation for a total of 25 elderly men, known as "The Brothers", under the care of "The Master". They belong to either of two charitable foundations: those belonging to the Order of the Hospital of St Cross (founded around 1132) wear black trencher hats and black robes with a silver badge in the shape of a cross potent, while those belonging to the Order of Noble Poverty (founded in 1445) wear claret trencher hats and claret robes with a silver cardinal's badge in memory of Cardinal Beaufort. They are often referred to as the "Black Brothers" and the "Red Brothers". Brothers must be single, widowed/divorced, and over 60 years of age. Preference is given to those in most need. They are expected to wear their robes and attend daily morning prayers (Matins) in the Chapel.
The Hospital continues an ancient tradition in the "Wayfarer's Dole", which consists of a small horn cup of ale and a piece of bread. The dole was started by a Cluniac monk and can be obtained by anyone who asks at the Porter's Lodge.
Mediaβ»
The hospital was used in the filming of The Day of the Triffids, and in the BBC adaptation of Wolf Hall. It was also featured on Songs of Praise.
Masters of the Hospitalβ»
List of Priests - Masters of the Hospital of St Cross:
- Robert of Limesia (c.1132βc.1171)
- William (c.1171βc.1185)
- Robert (1185β1204)
- Alan de Stoke (1204β1234)
- Humphrey de Myles/Millers (c.1235β1241)
- Henry de Secusia (1241β1248)
- Geoffrey de Ferringhes (1248βc.1260)
- Thomas of Colchester (c.1260βc.1268)
- Stephen de Wotton (c.1268β1289)
- Peter de Sancta Maria (1289β1295)
- William de Wedlyng (1296β1299)
- Robert of Maidstone (c. 1300β1321)
- Geoffrey de Welleford (1321β1322)
- Bernard de Asserio/Assier (1322β1332)
- Peter de Galiciano (1332β1335)
- William of Edington (1335β1345)
- Raymund de Pelegrini (1345β1346)
- Walter de Wetgang (1346β1346)
- Richard de Lutteshall (1346β1346)
- John of Edington (1346β1348)
- William de Frlee (1348β1349)
- John of Edington (re-collated 1349β1366)
- William de Stowell (1366β1368)
- Richard de Lyntesford (1368β1370)
- Roger de Cloune (1370β1374)
- Nicholas of Wykeham (1374β1383)
- John Campden (1383β1410)
- John Forest (1410β1425)
- Thomas Forest (1425β1463)
- Thomas Chandlers S.T.P. (1463β1465)
- William Westbury S.T.B. (1465β1473)
- Richard Harward LL.D. (1473β1489)
- John Lychefield LL.D. (1489β1492)
- Robert Sherborne (1492β1508)
- John Claymund (1508β1524)
- John Innocent LL.D. (1524β1545)
- William Meadow M.A. (1545β1557)
- John Leffe LL.D. (1557β1557)
- Robert Reynolds LL.D. (1557β1559)
- John Watson M.D. (1559β1583)
- Robert Bennett S.T.P. (1583β1603)
- Arthur Lake S.T.B. (1603β1616)
- Sir Peter Young Kt. (1616β1627)
- William Lewis S.T.P. (1627β1649)
- John Lisle Esq. (1649β1657)
- John Cooke Esq. (1657β1660)
- Richard Shute Esq. (1660β1660)
- William Lewis S.T.P. (re-instated 1660β1667)
- Henry Compton D.D. (1667β1675)
- William Harrison D.D. (1675β1694)
- Abraham Markland D.D. (1694β1728)
- John Lynch D.D. (1728β1760)
- John Hoadly LL.D. (1760β1776)
- Beilby Porteus D.D. (1776β1788)
- John Lockman D.D. (1788β1807)
- Francis North, 6th Earl of Guilford M.A. (1808β1829)
- Lewis Humbert M.A. (1855β1867)
- William Andrews M.A. (1868β1900)
- Hon. Alan Broderick M.A. (1901β1909)
- Francis Causton M.A. (1909β1928)
- Alfred Daldy M.A. (1928β1936)
- Charles Bostock M.A. (1936β1943)
- Oswald Hunt M.A. (1943β1952)
- Geoffrey Carlisle M.A. (1953β1970)
- Kenneth Felstead M.Sc. (1970β1979)
- Colin Deedes M.A. (1980β1992)
- Anthony Outhwaite B.Sc. (1993β2005)
- James Bates (2005β2009)
- Michael Harley M. Phil. (2009β2011)
- Reginald Sweet B.A. (2011β2020)
- Terry Hemming M.A. (2020β2022)
- Dominik Chmielewski M.A. (2022βPresent)
Referencesβ»
- ^ Jenkins, Simon (1999). England's Thousand Best Churches. ISBN 0-7139-9281-6
- ^ "The Hospital of St. Cross opening times". Stcross.f2s.com. Retrieved 30 September 2010.
- ^ "Hospital of St Cross and Almshouses of Noble Poverty". Historic England. Retrieved 29 March 2018.
- ^ "History". Hospital of St Cross. Retrieved 28 November 2018.
- ^ Page, William (1912). "'Winchester: The hospital of St Cross', in A History of the County of Hampshire". London: British History Online. pp. 59β69. Retrieved 28 November 2018.
- ^ Hopewell, Peter (1995). Saint Cross: England's Oldest Almshouse. Phillimore. ISBN 978-0-85033-965-9.
- ^ "The Hospital of St Cross - The Brothers". hospitalofstcross.co.uk. Retrieved 11 January 2017.
- ^ "The Hospital of St. Cross brothers". Stcross.f2s.com. Retrieved 30 September 2010.
- ^ "Join The Hospital of St. Cross". Stcross.f2s.com. Retrieved 30 September 2010.
- ^ "Visiting The Hospital of St. Cross". Stcross.f2s.com. Retrieved 30 September 2010.
- ^ "Wolf Hall: The Locations". BBC.
- ^ "Songs of Praise, Winchester". BBC. 13 June 2010. Retrieved 30 September 2010.
- ^ "New senior churchman to be installed at special service". Hampshire Chronicle. 20 April 2009. Retrieved 28 January 2023.
- ^ "Farewell service to Master of St Cross Reg Sweet after 55 years in ministry". Hampshire Chronicle. 15 January 2020. Retrieved 28 January 2023.
- ^ ""I feel extremely privileged": New master of St Cross installed". Hampshire Chronicle. 22 March 2020. Retrieved 28 January 2023.
- ^ "New rector Reverend Dominik Chmielewski at the Parish of St Faith". Hampshire Chronicle. 8 September 2022. Retrieved 28 January 2023.
External linksβ»
- Official website
- "Hospital of St Cross and Almshouse of Noble Poverty, registered charity no. 202751". Charity Commission for England and Wales.
- St Cross Village website
51Β°02β²53β³N 1Β°19β²19β³W / 51.048Β°N 1.322Β°W / 51.048; -1.322
- Buildings and structures completed in 1450
- Towers completed in the 15th century
- English medieval hospitals and almshouses
- Buildings and structures in Winchester
- Hospitals in Hampshire
- Hospitals established in the 12th century
- Charities based in Hampshire
- 1130s establishments in England
- Grade I listed buildings in Hampshire
- Grade I listed almshouses