Browne's Hospital, Stamford
Encyclopedia
Browne's Hospital is a medieval almshouse
in Stamford, Lincolnshire
. It was founded in 1485 by wealthy wool merchant William Browne to provide a home and a house of prayer for 12 poor men and 2 poor women.
The Hospital was richly endowed with property and agricultural land in the neighbourhood. Some of the funds were appropriated by Act of Parliament in 1871 for the foundation of Stamford High School
and the further endowment of Stamford School
. The endowment is commemorated in the name of a Stamford School house.
The Hospital is today home to 12 residents. The Victorian cottages around the courtyard garden were updated in 1963 to flats, each with a living room, bedroom, kitchen and bathroom.
The adjacent Warden's House, built ca 1870 to the designs of James Fowler
, is separately listed as Grade II. It is now rented for office use.
The Hospital is a Registered Charity and is managed by a Board of Governors and Trustees.
The Hospital is opened to the public at weekends and bank holidays during the summer. Visitors may see the Common Room where the men lived, the Chapel with its original stained-glass, the Audit Room and the Confrater's Sitting Room, all with original furnishings. T
and Sheriff of Rutland
. William Browne and his brother, John, were largely responsible for enlarging the Church of All Saints
where their memorial brasses may be seen.
In 1485 William was authorised by letters patent of Richard III to found and endow the almshouse, but after his death and that of his wife, Margaret, in 1489, the management of the Hospital passed to her brother, Thomas Stokke, Canon of York and Rector of Easton-on-the-Hill. Stokke obtained new letters patent from Henry VII in 1493.
Almshouse
Almshouses are charitable housing provided to enable people to live in a particular community...
in Stamford, Lincolnshire
Stamford, Lincolnshire
Stamford is a town and civil parish within the South Kesteven district of the county of Lincolnshire, England. It is approximately to the north of London, on the east side of the A1 road to York and Edinburgh and on the River Welland...
. It was founded in 1485 by wealthy wool merchant William Browne to provide a home and a house of prayer for 12 poor men and 2 poor women.
The Hospital
The Hospital, Bedehouse or Domus Dei was established as a home and a house of prayer for 10 poor men and 2 poor women, with a Warden and Confrater, both of whom were to be secular priests. The statutes required attendance at chapel twice daily, where masses for the repose of the souls of the Founders were said. A new charter was granted by James I in 1610.The Hospital was richly endowed with property and agricultural land in the neighbourhood. Some of the funds were appropriated by Act of Parliament in 1871 for the foundation of Stamford High School
Stamford High School, Lincolnshire
Stamford High School is an English girls' Independent School situated in the market town of Stamford, Lincolnshire, England on .-Education:...
and the further endowment of Stamford School
Stamford School
Stamford School is an English independent school situated in the market town of Stamford, Lincolnshire, England. It has been a member of the Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference since 1920.-History:...
. The endowment is commemorated in the name of a Stamford School house.
The Hospital is today home to 12 residents. The Victorian cottages around the courtyard garden were updated in 1963 to flats, each with a living room, bedroom, kitchen and bathroom.
The adjacent Warden's House, built ca 1870 to the designs of James Fowler
James Fowler (architect)
James Fowler JP, FRIBA, known as “Fowler of Louth”, was an English ecclesiastical architect of the Victorian Age chiefly associated with the restoration and renovation of churches....
, is separately listed as Grade II. It is now rented for office use.
The Hospital is a Registered Charity and is managed by a Board of Governors and Trustees.
The Hospital is opened to the public at weekends and bank holidays during the summer. Visitors may see the Common Room where the men lived, the Chapel with its original stained-glass, the Audit Room and the Confrater's Sitting Room, all with original furnishings. T
William Browne
The Hospital was founded by William Browne, a rich wool merchant and alderman of Stamford. Browne was also Mayor of the Calais StapleMerchants of the Staple
The Merchants of the Staple, also known as the Merchant Staplers, was an English company which controlled the export of wool to the continent during the late medieval period....
and Sheriff of Rutland
High Sheriff of Rutland
This is a list of High Sheriffs of Rutland. The High Sheriff is the oldest secular office under the Crown: there has been a Sheriff of Rutland since 1129...
. William Browne and his brother, John, were largely responsible for enlarging the Church of All Saints
All Saints' Church, Stamford
All Saints' Church, Stamford is a parish church in the Church of England located in Stamford, Lincolnshire.-History:All Saints' Church is medieval and is mentioned in the Domesday Book. It was substantially rebuilt in the 15th century....
where their memorial brasses may be seen.
In 1485 William was authorised by letters patent of Richard III to found and endow the almshouse, but after his death and that of his wife, Margaret, in 1489, the management of the Hospital passed to her brother, Thomas Stokke, Canon of York and Rector of Easton-on-the-Hill. Stokke obtained new letters patent from Henry VII in 1493.