Dr Milley's Hospital is an

almshouse An almshouse (also known as a bede-house, poorhouse, or hospital) is charitable housing provided to people in a particular community, especially during the Middle Ages. They were often built for the poor of a locality, for those who had held ce ...

for women in

Lichfield Lichfield () is a city status in the United Kingdom, cathedral city and Civil parishes in England, civil parish in Staffordshire, England. Lichfield is situated south-east of the county town of Stafford, north-east of Walsall, north-west of ...

, United Kingdom. It was founded on property (situated in the town ditch) given by Bishop Heyworth in 1424 for the use of the poor. The land was given, it is believed, on condition that a red rose was given to the Bishop of Lichfield (if demanded) each year on St John Baptist's Day, 24 June. It is not known when this custom ceased but it was revived in 1987 and the Bishop is now invited that day to receive 10 red roses, one for each resident. The hospital is named after Thomas Milley, a Canon residentiary of

Lichfield Cathedral Lichfield Cathedral, formally the Cathedral Church of Saint Mary and Saint Chad in Lichfield, is a Church of England cathedral in the city of Lichfield, England. It is the seat of the bishop of Lichfield and the principal church of the diocese ...

, who re-endowed and probably rebuilt the Hospital between 1502 and 1504. At that time it housed 15 poor women. Parts of the present building date back to 1652 (beams in upstairs corridor dated by dendrochronology) by which time the accommodation provided for only 10 residents. In the early 1900s the building was in such a bad state of repair that the Trustees wished to demolish all of it. The Charity Commissioners refused permission and in 1906-7 part of the building was demolished and the rest restored, leaving accommodation for 8 residents. Each woman had one room for all her needs, water had to be carried from the supply at the end of the passage and when finished with returned and tipped down the sink. One bathroom and a communal laundry room were not provided until 1967. It was extensively refurbished in the 1980s and the Hospital now provides for 10 residents, 6 in self-contained flats and 4 in studio apartments. Each has its own kitchen and bathroom. There is also a common room, laundry, drying area and garden. There is a Chaplain who holds regular services in the chapel. This is in the oldest part of the building, above the porch. It is possible the large beam in the entrance hall below dates back to the 1504 building. As an

Almshouse An almshouse (also known as a bede-house, poorhouse, or hospital) is charitable housing provided to people in a particular community, especially during the Middle Ages. They were often built for the poor of a locality, for those who had held ce ...

Dr Milley's Hospital still operates as accommodation for women of all ages in need of accommodation. It is run as a

Charity Charity may refer to: Common meanings * Charitable organization or charity, a non-profit organization whose primary objectives are philanthropy and social well-being of persons * Charity (practice), the practice of being benevolent, giving and sha ...

by the

Trustees Trustee (or the holding of a trusteeship) is a legal term which, in its broadest sense, refers to anyone in a position of trust and so can refer to any individual who holds property, authority, or a position of trust or responsibility for the ...

. The building was designated a Grade II*

Listed building In the United Kingdom, a listed building is a structure of particular architectural or historic interest deserving of special protection. Such buildings are placed on one of the four statutory lists maintained by Historic England in England, Hi ...

in 1952.Heritage Gateway – Results
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References

{{Reflist 1424 establishments in England Almshouses in Staffordshire Buildings and structures in Lichfield

See also

References