48. THE HOSPITAL OF CHATHAM
The hospital of St. Bartholomew, Chatham,
by Rochester, is said (fn. 1) to have been founded by
Gundulf, bishop of Rochester (1077-1108); and
it was found by an inquisition (fn. 2) taken in 1444
that it belonged to the prior and convent of
Rochester and that the king had no right in it.
Henry I by charter granted to the infirm of
the hospital a livery of 1d. daily, and 10s. yearly
which Alfer the falconer used to receive from the
farm of Milton at the hands of the sheriff of
Kent, and this grant was confirmed by Henry III. (fn. 3)
This latter king also in 1246 granted to them
livery of the 40;. yearly which Roger son of
Stephen de Northwude used to render to them
out of a land called Northwude within the
hundred of Milton, and also a messuage by the
market of Milton, pasture for one horse and
two cows, and quittance from toll and team and
lastage. (fn. 4)
In 1346 an inquisition (fn. 5) was taken concerning
the hospital, and the net value of its possessions,
described in detail, was found to be only £6 8s.
yearly. There were in it nine brethren and
seven sisters; and some of these were blind, one
sister was epileptic, and the prior was a leper. The
income of the hospital was evidently insufficient
for their maintenance; and Edward III in 1342,
1344, and 1347 exempted them from payment
of the wool tax. (fn. 6) In 1348 he granted to them
exemption from taxation for ever; (fn. 7) and this was
confirmed by later kings. (fn. 8)
Ademere Baldocke, late prior of the hospital,
brought a suit in Chancery about 1473 against
Edmond Saynt, late a brother of the hospital, for
the restoration of evidences of the house. (fn. 9)
The possessions of the hospital are not given
in the Valor of 1535, but there is mention of a
payment of 6s. yearly made by the almoner of
the cathedral to the brethren and sisters for the
soul of Gundulf, bishop of Rochester. (fn. 10) In 1546
the gross income was said to be £3 10s. 1d. and
the net income £2 9s. 11d. yearly; but it was
noted that 40s. yearly, the price of certain corn
accustomed to be paid at the hands of the farmer
of the parsonage of Stoke, had been unpaid for
nine years, and that 9d. for the farm of certain
lands in Frindsbury likewise remained unpaid. (fn. 11)
King James I on 13 July, 1619, made a grant
of the hospital to nominees of James, Viscount
Doncaster; but the dean of Rochester, as patron
of the hospital, objected that the crown had no
right in it; and after a long fight the hospital
was saved, though at a heavy expense. (fn. 12)
In 1837 the Charity Commissioners reported
that the institution consisted of five persons, viz.
the patron or master, the office being held by the
dean of Rochester for the time being without any
specific appointment, and four brethren, two
clerical and two laymen, who were appointed by
the dean as vacancies occurred. Each brother
received £27 yearly, and the dean the residue,
and the property consisted of the old hospital,
which was used as a chapel, and several premises
mentioned in the rental, described in detail. (fn. 13)