Hospital of St Mary Magdalene, Glastonbury
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The Hospital of St Mary Magdalene is a former Catholic religious complex in Glastonbury, Somerset, England. It built around 1310 by the Benedictine monks of Glastonbury Abbey. The hospital is a Grade II* listed building,[1] and a portion has been scheduled as an ancient monument.[2]
| Hospital of St Mary Magdalene | |
|---|---|
.jpg) | |
| Location | Glastonbury, Somerset, England |
| Coordinates | 51.1450°N 2.7178°W |
| Built | c. 1310 |
Listed Building – Grade II* | |
| Official name | Almshouses and Chapel of St Mary Magdalene's Hospital |
| Designated | 21 June 1950[1] |
| Reference no. | 1057909 |
| Official name | Part of the Hospital of St Mary Magdalene, Magdalene Street |
| Designated | 24 April 1951[2] |
| Reference no. | 1020789 |
  Location of Hospital of St Mary Magdalene in Somerset | |
The hospital was built before 1322, as almshouses for ten men, with a chapel. Parts of the original chapel still survive. This was once attached to a hall which was demolished after the Dissolution of the Monasteries. The rest of the buildings are late medieval,[1] believed to have been built in 1444.[3]
A previous hospital supported by Glastonbury Abbey moved to the current site around 1250 and in 1460 dedicated to Mary Magdalene the patron saint of lepers.[4][5] In the 16th century it was considered a chantry and financial support for the brethren and priest being given by the abbey until the dissolution. After this funding was provided by the crown and county treasurer of hospitals.[4]
The hall roof was removed and the cubicles on each side converted into individual dwellings, or cells, leading to the chapel.[2] In the early 17th century the almshouses were described as "ruinous" and by 1703 the chapel had lost its roof.[4]
In the 19th century conversion and updating reduced the number of dwellings and provided a communal wash house.[2] The south side of the parallel rows was demolished in the 1960s and a communal garden and flats for the elderly built on the site.[6][4][7] One of the almshouses has been restored and is open to the public.[5]
The stone chapel is a single room. The original lancet window has been blocked up. On the roof is a small bellcote which is more recent than the walls of the building.[2] It has space for two bells one of which still exists.[7] The cells are of two storeys and have slate roofs.[1]
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