47. THE HOSPITAL OF ST. NICHOLAS, BURY ST. EDMUNDS
The hospital of St. Nicholas stood a short
distance without the east gate. The establishment consisted of a master, a chaplain, and
several brethren. It was founded by an abbot of
Bury St. Edmunds; but the exact date and the
particular abbot are unknown.
The earliest known dated reference to it is of
the year 1224, when Henry III granted a fair
to the master of the hospital of St. Nicholas, to
be held on the feast and vigil of the Translation
of St. Nicholas. (fn. 1)
The oldest of several charters at the Bodleian
relative to this hospital is perhaps of a little earlier
date, c. 1215; it is a grant from Richard de la
Care, the prior, and the brethren of the hospital
of St. Nicholas without the east gate of St.
Edmunds to the hospital of St. Peter of all their
right in land called 'Holdefader Acre,' lying at
'Dristnapes'; for this grant the brethren of
St. Peter gave 6s. of silver. (fn. 2) Other undated deeds
of a slightly later date refer to further transfers
between the two hospitals. (fn. 3)
In 1325 Edward II granted pardon to the
brethren of St Nicholas for acquiring from
Hervey de Staunton, the king's clerk, land and
rent in the town of St. Edmunds, in aid of the
maintenance of a chaplain to celebrate daily in
the hospital for the king and his children and for
the souls of Abbot John and the faithful
departed. (fn. 4)
The master and brethren of the hospital of
St. Nicholas obtained licence in 1392 for the
alienation to them, by Thomas Ewelle and others,
of land and meadows in Bury, Langham, and
Great Barton. (fn. 5)
The chantry of Henry Staunton's founding in
the chapel of this hospital seems to have been
usually held by one of the obedientiaries of the
great abbey. In 1351 it was held by John de
Sneylewell, the sacrist, and at another time by
Edmund de Brundish, the prior. (fn. 6)
The Valor of 1535 names John Keall as
chaplain of the chapel of St. Nicholas without
the east gate. At that time the mastership and
the chaplaincy were apparently combined. The
clear value is given as £6 19s. 1d. a year. (fn. 7)
Master Henry Rudde, doctor of Bury, by will
of 1506, bequeathed to the hospital of St. Nicholas
'a vestement of whyte satyn and bordrid with
Seynt Nicholas arms, to the value of V mark,' (fn. 8)
and Anne Buckenham, of Bury, by will of 1534,
left 'to the chapell of Sainte Nicholas, of whom I
holde my house, a litle chalis.' (fn. 9)
Masters of The Hospital Of St. Nicholas, Bury St. Edmunds
Richard de la Care, (fn. 10)
c. 1215
William Maymond, (fn. 11) 1343
John Gerrard, (fn. 12) 1396
William Stowe, (fn. 13) 1459
John Keall, (fn. 14) 1535