35. THE HOSPITAL OF ST. MARY MAGDALEN, SOUTHWELL
As to the hospital of St. Mary Magdalen
without Southwell, hardly anything is known
save that the mastership was in the patronage of
the Archbishop of York. Several collations by
respective archbishops to this benefice occur in
the York registers.
The earliest of these is of the year 1313,
when Henry de Hykeling, master of the Southwell Grammar School, (fn. 184) acolyte, was appointed
warden of the hospital of St. Mary Magdalen
extra Southwell. (fn. 185)
An exchange was effected in 1361 between
Richard de Otteringham, prebendary of Parva
Pipe, Lichfield, and Henry de Barton, warden of
the Southwell Hospital. (fn. 186)
On 30 October 1399 an exchange was
effected between Alexander Herll, warden of
St. Giles Hospital, Little Maldon, and Robert
Manfield, warden of St. Mary Magdalen's
Hospital, Southwell. (fn. 187)
Roger de Newbold was collated to this
wardenship in 1456. (fn. 188)
From the relevant entry in the Valor of 1534
it would appear that this small mediaeval hospital, like the majority of its fellows throughout
England, had by that time ceased to do any
service for the poor or infirm, and simply found
a salary for a master or chaplain. The clear
annual value was but 44s. 11d., and the chaplain,
one John Bulle, was also one of the vicars choral
of the collegiate church of Southwell in receipt
of a stipend of £7 4s. 8½d. (fn. 189)
The 1545-6 commissioners of Henry VIII
made the following enigmatical entry with
regard to this hospital, of which apparently only
the chapel survived:—
'The Chapelle called Marie Magdaleyn
Chappell in Estthorppefeldes in the parisshe of
Southewell by whome or to what intente and
purpose ytt was founded no man answerithe.' (fn. 190)
The commissioners of 1547 also left the
question of the founder of 'the frechapell called
Mawdeleyn capell' unsolved, but stated its
intent to be the support of a chaplain to sing
divine service. The name of the incumbent
was unknown, and the clear value was returned
as 45s. 6½d. (fn. 190a)