Browne's Hospital is a medieval

almshouse An almshouse (also known as a bede-house, poorhouse, or hospital) was charitable organization, charitable public housing, housing provided to people in a particular community, especially during the medieval era. They were often targeted at the p ...

in Stamford, Lincolnshire, England. It was founded in 1485 by wealthy wool merchant William Browne to provide a home and a house of prayer for twelve poor men and two poor women.

History

The Hospital, Bedehouse or Domus Dei was established in 1475 during reign of Edward IV as a home and a house of prayer for ten poor men and two 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 and the further endowment of

Stamford School Stamford School is an independent school for boys in Stamford, Lincolnshire in the English public school tradition. Founded in 1532, it has been a member of the Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference since 1920. With the girls-only S ...

. The endowment is commemorated in the name of a Stamford School house. The Hospital is today home to twelve residents. The Victorian cottages around the courtyard garden were updated in 1963 to flats, each with a living room, bedroom, kitchen and bathroom. It is a

Registered Charity A charitable organization or charity is an organization whose primary objectives are philanthropy and social well-being (e.g. educational, Religion, religious or other activities serving the public interest or common good). The legal definitio ...

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. The adjacent Warden's House, built c. 1870 to the designs of James Fowler, is separately listed as Grade II. It is now rented for office use. In 1994 it was used for filming, portraying Middlemarch Hospital in George Eliot's '' Middlemarch'', most of which was filmed in Stamford.

References

External links

Visiting informationThe chapel is one of the ''Churches of Stamford''1870 painting of the common room
* {{Authority control Buildings and structures in Stamford, Lincolnshire Tourist attractions in Lincolnshire Grade II* listed buildings in Lincolnshire Grade II* listed almshouses