Canterbury’s Medieval Hospitals

I went on three walks as part of the Canterbury Festival. This one was on Canterbury’s Medieval Hospitals and was sponsored by the Canterbury Festival and the Canterbury Archeological Trust. The earliest post-Conquest hospitals in England were Archbishop Lanfranc’s foundations of St John’s and St Nicholas’ which were built c.1084.  St John’s was constructed to provide for poor and needy persons, and from the outset there were 30 poor men and 30 poor women housed in a great stone building that was divided to keep the two groups separate. The hospital had its own chapel which was served by a priest. To-day it is like sheltered housing. To gain residence you have to apply to the Prior or Master (usually a retired priest). One resident we talked to had been a verger in several cathedrals during his career.

A fund raiser for the East Kent hunt

It was a great sunny day. About 30 riders turned up - mostly with their horse boxes and afterwards the family, under the direction of my sister Anne, put on a feast - stew made from beef reared on the farm plus vegetables then blackberry and apple pie (picked on the farm) and ice cream. Also beer and wine.