26. HOSPITAL OF ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST, SHAFTESBURY (fn. 82)
When and by whom this hospital was
founded history does not say. The earliest
notice of it occurs 5 January, 1223, when the
king issued an order to John Lancelive, bailiff
of Brian de Insula of the forest of Dorset,
directing him to allow the prior of the hospital
of St. John of Shaftesbury three trees (fusta) of
the windfall wood of the king's park of Gillingham for the repair of his house. (fn. 83) The foundation, therefore, cannot be dated later than the
beginning of the thirteenth century. The
chantry commissioners in the sixteenth century
reported that it was ordained for the relief of
five poor men who then lived by the alms of
the town, the whole of the profits being received by the priest who officiated there. (fn. 84)
The house, or priory as it is occasionally
termed, was in the patronage of the abbess of
Shaftesbury and the diocesan registers give a
succession of presentations by the nuns down to
the Dissolution, beginning with William de
Eggeclyve, priest, presented to the wardenship
by the abbess and convent 11 November, 1305. (fn. 85)
In April, 1541, Robert Fowke, the last warden
or master, was presented by Edmund Wynter,
knt., David Brokwey, gent., and Nicholas
Tyddour, patrons pro hac vice by reason of the
grant of letters of advowson made to them by
the last abbess and convent of Shaftesbury. (fn. 86)
For some reason not very apparent the patronage
of the house came temporarily into the hands of
the king in 1381, and in September of that
year Richard II presented John Ridgway, chaplain, to the life custody of the hospital of St. John
on the Mount at Shaftesbury, his appointment
being shortly afterwards followed by that of John
Bridport. (fn. 87)
Beyond the names of the different wardens
the history of St. John's is almost a blank. The
master in 1348 probably fell a victim to the
terrible plague that ravaged Dorset in the
autumn and winter of that year, for in the
heavy list of presentations for December occurs
that of John de Meleborn to St. John's, Shaftesbury, on the death of William de Godeford,
late warden. (fn. 88) William Russel, called the prior
of the hospital, was visited along with other
rectors and vicars of the deanery by the diocesan
in the church of Holy Trinity, Shaftesbury, in
April, 1344. (fn. 89)
In an inquisition made in 1499 the hospital
was said to be founded by the king's ancestors.
The property, consisting of five tenements, 4
acres of arable, 10½ acres of pasture, and half an
acre of meadow, was valued at £6. The support of the poor and the celebration of the divine
services weekly and yearly had been neglected
for the last twenty years, and had completely
ceased in the last two years, during which David
Knolle, chaplain, had taken the profits and also
removed the ornaments of the hospital. (fn. 89a)
On the confiscation of chantries this hospital
was valued at £4, with one bell worth 3s. 4d. (fn. 90)
It was granted by Edward VI with lands belonging to it in Shaftesbury, Motcombe, and
Gillingham, to Kendal, Burgh, and others for
the sum of £136 11s. 4d. (fn. 91) The last incumbent, John Hame, received a pension of
£3 15s. 4d. (fn. 92)
Wardens or Priors of Shaftesbury Hospital
William de Eggeclyve, appointed 1305 (fn. 93)
William de Godeford, died 1348 (fn. 94)
John de Meleborn, appointed 1348 (fn. 95)
John Lord, appointed 1361, (fn. 96) died 1381
John Ridgway, appointed 1381 (fn. 97)
John Bridport, appointed 1381 (fn. 98)
William Russel, appointed 1381, (fn. 99) died 1423
James Grevey, appointed 1423 (fn. 100)
John Wynnyngham, died 1470 (fn. 101)
John Tyrell, appointed 1470 (fn. 102)
William Ketilton, resigned 1492 (fn. 103)
George Twynho, appointed 1492, (fn. 104) resigned
1496
David Knollys or Knolle, appointed 1496 (fn. 105)
William Wylton, died 1525 (fn. 106)
William Parkows, appointed 1525 (fn. 107)
William Percuste, died 1541 (fn. 108)
Robert Fowke, appointed 1541 (fn. 109)
John Hame, last incumbent. (fn. 109a)