HOSPITALS
21. HOSPITAL OF ST. MARY BIGGING,
ANSTEY
It is not known when or by whom (fn. 1) the hospital
of St. Mary Bigging or of the Bigging in the
parish of Anstey was founded, but it existed and
had land in Buckland in 1287 (fn. 2) and paid subsidy
in 1291. (fn. 3)
An exchange of lands was effected between
Dionisia de Monchesney, lady of Anstey Manor
at this time, (fn. 4) and John the warden of Bigging, (fn. 5)
possibly John de Boclonde, master in 1308. (fn. 6)
Protection was given by the king in May 1316 (fn. 7)
and December 1325 (fn. 8) to the keeper or warden
of this house.
In 1343, at the request of John Darcy le fitz,
Edward III gave the chaplains of the hospital
licence to acquire in mortmain land and rent
to the yearly value of £10 (fn. 9) ; and in part satisfaction of this amount they received in 1350
100s. rent from land in Great and Little Chishall
(co. Camb.), (fn. 10) in 1353 messuages and land in
Buntingford, Barkway, Hormead, Braughing,
Buckland, Wyddial and Alswick in Layston
worth 16s. a year, (fn. 11) and in 1366 75 acres and 10s.
rent in Great and Little Hormead, Braughing
and Buntingford. (fn. 12)
This house is sometimes called the 'poor'
hospital of St. Mary, (fn. 13) no doubt with truth, since
only the brothers' pressing need could have
caused their arrangement in 1405 with a certain
Ralph Cokkyng. (fn. 14) For 50 marks they made over
to Ralph for sixty years land in Little Hormead
and elsewhere valued at 5 marks a year. It was
understood that Ralph was to settle land in
Royston worth 40s. a year on the hospital, but
he never did so. Thirty years later it was
alleged that damage to the extent of more than
50 marks had been done to the hospital's
property by Ralph's son and successor. The
hospital or free chapel, (fn. 15) as it had now become,
is not mentioned again until August 1589, when
it was granted by the Crown to William Tipper
and Robert Dawe. (fn. 16)
Masters or Wardens 17 of St. Mary Bigging,
Anstey
John, occurs 1287 (fn. 17)
John de Boclonde, occurs August 1308 (fn. 18)
Richard, occurs 1368 (fn. 19)
Nicholas Mokkyng, occurs January 1401 (fn. 20)
and c. 1405 (fn. 21)
Thomas Whightfeld, occurs c. 1435 (fn. 22)