HOSPITALS
25. THE HOSPITAL OF ST. THOMAS, BIRMINGHAM
The hospital of St. Thomas at Birmingham
was situate, according to Dugdale, 'at that end
of the town towards Wolverhampton, and on
the right hand the road, almost opposite to the
sign of the Bull.' (fn. 1)
No record of its foundation has yet been
found. The first known mention of it occurs
in the reign of Edward I, licence being granted
in 1286 for the alienation in mortmain to the
master and brethren of the hospital of St. Thomas,
by Thomas de Maidenhacche and William de
Birmingham, of 10 acres of heath in Aston,
and by Ranulph de Rokeby of 3 acres of land in
Saltley. (fn. 2)
On 20 December, 1310, the prior and
brethren of this hospital had pardon granted
them by the crown for acquiring, without
licence from the late king, 7½ acres of land in
Bordesley, from John de Somery; 22½ acres of
land and ½ acre of meadow in Birmingham, from
William de Birmingham; 1½ acres of land in
Duddeston, from Nicholas de la Dale; a messuage
and moiety of a virgate in Duddeston, from William de la Shawe; 4½ acres in Saltley, from Ralph
Wombestronge; 10 acres of land in Aston, from
Thomas de Maydenhacche; as well as divers
cottages, rents, and small plots of land in Birmingham, from no fewer than twenty-seven
donors. (fn. 3) From these numerous small bequests
it would appear that the hospital was then doing
a good and appreciated work in the district. But
its condition must soon afterwards have changed.
The hospital was visited in 1344 by Bishop
Northburgh. It was found to be in a miserable
plight, and the diocesan issued revised regulations
to be observed by the brethren. The bishop in
the preamble to his decree asserted that vile
reprobates had assumed the habit in order that
they might continue their evil lives sub velamine
religiositatis, and then forsake it and cause themselves to be styled hermits. (fn. 4)
The bishop's strenuous visitation apparently
effected the necessary reformation, for soon afterwards the hospital again won the favour of the
chief men of the parish. In 1350 Fulk de
Birmingham and Richard Spencer gave to the
master and brethren of the hospital of St. Thomas
the Martyr two messuages and 100 acres of land
in Birmingham and Aston, conditional on their
finding a priest to celebrate daily at the Lady
altar in their chapel for the souls of William le
Mercer and Margaret his wife. (fn. 5)
The hospital was suppressed in 1546, when
the clear annual value was declared to be
£8 5s. 3d. (fn. 6)
Wardens
Robert Marmion, 1326
John Nevill, appointed 1353 (fn. 7)
Robert Cappe, 1361-9 (fn. 8)
Hugh de Wolvesey, appointed 1369
Robert Cheyne, 1393-6 (fn. 9)
Henry Bradley, 1396-1403 (fn. 10)
Thomas Galpyn, 1403-7 (fn. 11)
Robert Browe, 1407-12 (fn. 12)
John Poet, appointed 1412 (fn. 13)
William Prestwode, 1416-21 (fn. 14)
Henry Drayton, appointed 1421 (fn. 15)
William Fullan, 1464 (fn. 16)
William Guest, 1464-7 (fn. 16)
Fulk Bermingham, 1467-77 (fn. 17)
Thomas Smallwode, appointed 1477 (fn. 18)
Edward Tofte, 1521 (fn. 19)
Henry Holly, 1538-46 (fn. 20)