Information for record number MWA1927:
Remains of Medieval Leper Hospital, Saltisford, Warwick

Summary The remains of a Medieval hospital founded by Roger Earl of Warwick. The remains lie to the north of Saltisford Road 100m north west of the Vittle Drive / Ansell Road cross Roads. Upstanding buildings include the 15th century chapel and 15th/16th century Master's House.
What Is It?  
Type: Leper Hospital
Period: Medieval - Post-Medieval (1066 AD - 1750 AD)
Where Is It?  
Parish: Warwick
District: Warwick, Warwickshire
Grid Reference: SP 27 65
(Data represented on this map shows the current selected record as a single point, this is for illustrative purposes only and does not represent an accurate or complete representation of archaeological sites or features)
Level of Protection National - Old SMR PrefRef (Grade: )
Scheduled Monument (Grade: )
Sites & Monuments Record
Picture(s) attached

  
Description

  
Source Number  

1 Hospital of St Michael, on the north of town, near St Michael's Church. Founded by Roger Earl of Warwick about the end of the reign of Henry I (1100-1135). Its small endowment was originally intended for the benefit of lepers. Information on wardens and the history of the Hospital exists from 1275. In 1535 it was given to Richard Fisher in exchange for rent and the provision of money and four beds to the poor. Philip and Mary revived the religious character of the foundation. The last known master was appointed in 1557.
2 Scheduled as Warwickshire Monument No 182.
3 The remains of the Hospital comprise a Chapel (MWA 1950) and a two-storied timber framed building of the 15th century, often known as the 'master's ' or 'priest's' house. This is of two bays with close-studded framing and blocked original windows. Additions were made to the west in the 17th century. It was subsequently divided into three tenements.
4 The south-east and central bays are late 15th century or early 16th century. The north-west bay is probably 16th century. It is unclear whether this was part of the warden/master's house, or part of the Hospital. John Leland (c1540) describes the Hospital as 'muche in ruine'.
5 1988: Two trial holes were excavated by contractors and revealed a series of layers of probable Medieval and Post Medieval date.
8 The scheduled area of this monument was revised in 1991 as SM 17004.
9 It was common practice to site such Hospitals beyond the fringes of towns to minimise the spread of infection. The site is encroached upon by a railway embankment, industrial buildings, a large council depot and the A41 Banbury to Birmingham road.
10 Photo.
11 Evaluation trenches in 2004 located 13th century stone building remains belonging to either the early Hospital or the Chapel. 13th century or earlier post holes and pits were also found and may relate to timber structures in the very early phase of the site. A definite later Medieval phase was identified consisting of masonry wall foundations and a yard surface (similar to MWA 9224). Other possible boundary features were also located.
12 Hospital and garden.
13 Press cuttings from the 1970s.
14 Note from 1973.
15 Correspondence from 1979.
16 Correspondence about building conservation work.
17 Architects' plans.
18 Plan of the Leper Hospital in 1851.
19 Material from the archaeological work in 1988.
20 Sketch plan.
21 Observation of holes dug inside the building in 1977 was carried out by Harold Mytum for Warwickshire Museum. The foundations of the 15th century West wall of the Chapel were recorded. A loose mixture of sand and sandstone, either a make-up layer or wide-construction trench was recorded alongside the wall. A single sherd of 13th century pottery was the only find. Later restoration work uncovered several extensive area of painted wall-plaster with probably 15th-century designs.
22
23 A survey of the Master's house was undertaken in 1996. A post-dissolution date for the house was suggested, which would mean that it was not part of the Leper Hospital. However subsequent dendro dating found that the timbers were pre-dissolution.
 
Sources
Source No: 1
Source Type: Bibliographic reference
Title: Victoria County History, vol 2, Warwickshire
Author/originator: Page W (ed)
Date: 1908
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet: 2
   
Source No: 3
Source Type: Bibliographic reference
Title: Victoria County History, vol 8, Warwickshire
Author/originator: Pugh R B (ed)
Date: 1969
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet: 8
   
Source No: 22
Source Type: Building Survey
Title: The Master's House Warwick, An outline Analysis and Survey
Author/originator: Morriss R K
Date: 1996
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet: 16
   
Source No: 4
Source Type: Building Survey
Title: The Priest's or Master's House of the former leper hospital of St Michael's Chapel, Saltisford, Warwick
Author/originator: RCHME
Date:
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 15
Source Type: Correspondence
Title: St Michael's Hospital and Chapel
Author/originator: Manchester, Keith
Date: 1979
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 16
Source Type: Correspondence
Title: St Michael's Hospital, Saltisford
Author/originator: Various
Date: 1987-90
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 7
Source Type: Descriptive Text
Title: LBL
Author/originator: DoE
Date:
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 19
Source Type: Excavation archive
Title: The Leper Hospital, Saltisford, Warwick
Author/originator: WM
Date: 1988
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 5
Source Type: Excavation Report
Title: Warwick Leper Hospital
Author/originator: PMB
Date: 1988
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 11
Source Type: Evaluation Report
Title: Archaeological Evaluation of the former Leper Hospital, Saltisford, Warwick
Author/originator: Jones, C and Thompson, P
Date: 2004
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet: Report No 0445
   
Source No: 14
Source Type: Note
Title: Leper Hospital, Saltisford
Author/originator: WMB
Date: 1973
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 13
Source Type: Newspaper/Magazine Article
Title: Leper Hospital and Chapel
Author/originator: Warwick Advertiser
Date: 1971-74
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 17
Source Type: Plan
Title: St Michael's Church, Saltisford,Warwick
Author/originator: Robotham, David. H
Date: 1985-8
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 18
Source Type: Plan
Title: Warwick Leper Hospital: 1851
Author/originator:
Date:
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 20
Source Type: Plan
Title: St Michael's Leper Hospital
Author/originator:
Date:
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 21
Source Type: Serial
Title: WMANS no 21
Author/originator:
Date: 1978
Page Number: 94
Volume/Sheet: 21
   
Source No: 9
Source Type: Serial
Title: SPAB News
Author/originator:
Date: 1990
Page Number: 9
Volume/Sheet: 11, No.1
   
Source No: 10
Source Type: Serial
Title: Medieval Hospital, Saltisford
Author/originator: SPAB News
Date: 1990
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 2
Source Type: Scheduling record
Title: St Michael's Leper Hospital, Warwick
Author/originator: DoE
Date:
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 8
Source Type: Scheduling record
Title: Medieval Hospital, Saltisford
Author/originator: English Heritage
Date: 1991
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 6
Source Type: Scheduling record
Title: SAM list
Author/originator: DoE
Date: 1985
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 12
Source Type: Unpublished document
Title: St. Michael's Leper Hospital and Garden: Conversation Statement
Author/originator: Diane Trenchard-James
Date: 2006
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 23
Source Type: Unpublished document
Title: Tree-ring analysis of timbers from the Master's House, Saltisford, Warwick
Author/originator: Howard R E & Laxton R R
Date: 1996
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet: 30/96
   
Images:  
St Michael's Hospital, Warwick
Copyright: Warwickshire County Council
Date: 2000
Click here for larger image  
 
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Glossary

 
Word or Phrase
Description  
none Scheduled Monument Scheduled Ancient Monuments (SAMs) are those archaeological sites which are legally recognised as being of national importance. They can range in date from prehistoric times to the Cold War period. They can take many different forms, including disused buildings or sites surviving as earthworks or cropmarks.

SAMs are protected by law from unlicensed disturbance and metal detecting. Written consent from the Secretary of State must be obtained before any sort of work can begin, including archaeological work such as geophysical survey or archaeological excavation. There are nearly 200 SAMs in Warwickshire.
 		back
source LBL Listed Building List. Buildings and structures, such as bridges, that are of architectural or historical importance are placed on a list. Buildings placed on the list are protected through various planning and conservation acts which ensure that their special features of interest are considered before any alterations are made to them. The Listed Buildings List is compiled and maintained by English Heritage. It includes details of where the building is, when it was built, a description of its appearance, and any other special features. back
source SAM List Scheduled Ancient Monument List. A list or schedule of archaelogical and historic monuments that are considered to be of national importance. The list contains a detailed description of each Scheduled Ancient Monument (SAM) and a map showing their location and extent. By being placed on the schedule, SAMs are protected by law from any unauthorised distrubance. The list has been compiled and is maintained by English Heritage. It is updated periodically. back
source WMANS West Midlands Archaeological News Sheet, a publication that was produced each year, this later became West Midlands Archaeology. The West Midlands Arcaheological News Sheet contains reports about archaeological work that was carried out in the West Midlands region in the previous year. It includes information about sites dating from the Prehistoric to the Post Medieval periods. It was produced the Department of Extramural Studies at Birmingham University. Copies are held at the Warwickshire Sites and Monuments Record. back
period Medieval 1066 AD to 1539 AD (the 11th century AD to the 16th century AD)

The medieval period comes after the Saxon period and before the post medieval period.

The Medieval period begins in 1066 AD.
This was the year that the Normans, led by William the Conqueror (1066 – 1087), invaded England and defeated Harold Godwinson at the Battle of Hastings in East Sussex.
The Medieval period includes the first half of the Tudor period (1485 – 1603 AD), when the Tudor family reigned in England and eventually in Scotland too.

The end of the Medieval period is marked by Henry VIII’s (1509 – 1547) order for the Dissolution of the Monasteries in the years running up to 1539 AD. The whole of this period is sometimes called the Middle Ages.
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period Post Medieval About 1540 AD to 1750 AD (the 16th century AD to the 18th century AD)

The Post Medieval period comes after the medieval period and before the Imperial period.

This period covers the second half of the reign of the Tudors (1485 – 1603), the reign of the Stuarts (1603 – 1702) and the beginning of the reign of the Hannoverians (1714 – 1836).
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monument YARD * A paved area, generally found at the back of a house. back
monument EXCHANGE * A multi-purpose commercial building, used primarily as a trading place for merchants, but also incorporating shops, public offices, guildhalls, etc. back
monument LAYER * An archaeological unit of soil in a horizontal plane which may seal features or be cut through by other features. back
monument HOUSE * A building for human habitation, especially a dwelling place. Use more specific type where known. back
monument SITE * Unclassifiable site with minimal information. Specify site type wherever possible. back
monument RAILWAY EMBANKMENT * A man-made ridge to carry a railway across a declivity or area subject to flooding. back
monument BUILDING * A structure with a roof to provide shelter from the weather for occupants or contents. Use specific type where known. back
monument STONE * Use only where stone is natural or where there is no indication of function. back
monument BOUNDARY * The limit to an area as defined on a map or by a marker of some form, eg. BOUNDARY WALL. Use specific type where known. back
monument FEATURE * Areas of indeterminate function. back
monument INDUSTRIAL BUILDING * Any building designed or adapted to accommodate trades and manufacturing activity. Use more specific site where known. back
monument CHURCH * A building used for public Christian worship. Use more specific type where known. back
monument DRIVE * A road/carriage way giving access from the main road to the house, stables. back
monument ROAD * A way between different places, used by horses, travellers on foot and vehicles. back
monument PIT * A hole or cavity in the ground, either natural or the result of excavation. Use more specific type where known. back
monument TENEMENT * A parcel of land. back
monument MUSEUM * A building, group of buildings or space within a building, where objects of value such as works of art, antiquities, scientific specimens, or other artefacts are housed and displayed. back
monument HOSPITAL * An establishment providing medical or surgical treatment for the ill or wounded. Use narrower term where possible. back
monument TRENCH * An excavation used as a means of concealment, protection or both. back
monument TIMBER FRAMED BUILDING * A building constructed with a basic timber framework; between the members are panels which can be infilled with timber, wattle and daub, plaster, brick or other materials. back
monument CHAPEL * A freestanding building, or a room or recess serving as a place of Christian worship in a church or other building. Use more specific type where known. back
monument GARDEN * An enclosed piece of ground devoted to the cultivation of flowers, fruit or vegetables and/or recreational purposes. Use more specific type where known. back
monument STRUCTURE * A construction of unknown function, either extant or implied by archaeological evidence. If known, use more specific type. back
monument LEPER HOSPITAL * A medieval hospital for lepers, usually consisting of a church and individual shelters for the lepers. back
monument CROSS * A free-standing structure, in the form of a cross (+), symbolizing the structure on which Jesus Christ was crucified and sacred to the Christian faith. Use specific type where known. back
monument WALL * An enclosing structure composed of bricks, stones or similar materials, laid in courses. Use specific type where known. back
monument TOWN * An assemblage of public and private buildings, larger than a village and having more complete and independent local government. back
monument CONSTRUCTION TRENCH * A trench dug in order to receive the foundations of a structure such as a stone wall etc. back
monument POST HOLE * A hole dug to provide a firm base for an upright post, often with stone packing. Use broader monument type where known. back
monument DEPOT * A building or site used as a storage and distribution centre. back

* Copyright of English Heritage (1999)

English Heritage National Monuments Record