Monument record 0061100000 - ST MARGARET'S HOSPITAL

First impression is of 2 hospitals - Ss Giles' & Margaret's (B1-2,B19).
But seems, particularly from grant to Richard May of 1392 only 1, dedicated variously (B2,B7,B19).
St Giles' Hospital for lepers founded before 1229. St Margaret's first mentioned 1229 (B2,B19).
1596 estate map marks 'St Margaret's' approx at NGR (B3).
An archaeological desk-based assessment of land at West Richardson Street, High Wycombe, carried out by NAU Achaeology in February 2010, identified the potential for archaeological remains in undisturbed areas of the site, and the possibility of medieval burials connected with the medieval leper hospital of St Margaret's, located to the south of the site (B17).
Subsequent trial trenching in June 2010 failed to locate any remains associated with the hospital, suggesting that the complex did not extend further to the north (B18).
Negative fieldwork (B20).



(SU 8659 9266) St Margearet and St Gile's Hospital (NR) (supposed site of). (B21)

A hospital for male lepers near High Wycombe dedicated to St Margaret is recorded in 1229 when it was granted an annual fair and in the same year mention is made of a leper hospital dedicated to St Giles; this is said to have been dissolved soon after 1389. In 1368 mention is made of a hospital dedicated to St Gilbert and St Margaret. (B2)

St Margaret's Hospital is described as being 'at the end of the town' in 1467. The repair of the chapel of a leper hospital is recorded in 1233 and it is suggested that it lay at the site published on Ordnance Survey maps (Jenkinson and Clay note that there was but one leper foundation here with its full invocation to St Margaret and St Giles). (B19 - B22)

The Ordnance Survey maps suppose the site to have been where Wycombe Abbey stands, but one of the 'Hovenden' maps (1536) in the library of All Souls College, Oxford shows the position of St Margaret's Chapel on the lane from the All Souls Meadow (area SU 858932). The 'Free Chapel of St Margaret, otherwise called the Hospital of St Giles' was referred to in 1392 when its original function seems to have ceased. The accuracy of the Hovenden map in placing the hospital west of the borough is supported by a number of documentary references, the most significant of which is a 13th century deed mentioning property 'between the hospital of St Giles and the Mill belonging to the Lord Bishop of Winchester', probably that called 'Ball's Mill' in the 18th century. (B7)

St Margaret's hospital for lepers was called the Loke. St Mary's Street (SU 8692) led to it from the ancient Bridge Mill. (B23)

No further information on the precise site of the Hospital. (B24)

NRHE Insert 2001, update 2003