St Bartholomew’s Day, 24th August 2024 – The trustees of The Hospitals of St Bartholomew & St John almshouse in Hythe, Kent held a celebration to mark 750 years since the first known recorded mention of the above almshouse being in this ancient Cinque Port town in 1274.
This date was a recent discovery in the ‘Kilwardby Survey of manorial accounts for properties of The Archbishop of Canterbury’ . Nobody knows exactly when or by whom Hythe’s two ancient almshouses were originally founded, but the records show that in 1274, there was a payment of “Statutory Alms” from The Archbishop of Canterbury’s property of Saltwood of seventeen shillings and four pence to The Hospital of St Bartholomew and, in the Hospitals’ archives of 1,200 items, two of the earliest documents are the 1336 and 1348 charters by The Bishop of Rochester re-founding the almshouse.
So from the time of King Edward I (or maybe even earlier), Hythe’s two almshouse charities of The Hospital of St Bartholomew and The Hospital of St John have, throughout the reigns of no less than 35 monarchs, greatly improved the lives of hundreds of local people.
From the archives of the two almshouse charities of Hythe
- In 1348, the then Bishop of Rochester, who was born in Hythe, “Looking with eyes of pity on the poor of the town” re-founded St Bartholemew’s almshouse.
- In 1573, St Bartholemew’s almshouse was visited by Archbishop Parker, who said “This place is filled with rogues and vagabonds” and dismissed the two trustees.
- By 1685, when the two almshouses (The Hospital of St Bartholomew and The Hospital of St John) were managed by the same trustees, between them they owned some 150 acres of land in and around Hythe. Sadly over the years, all of this land was sold off with the proceeds put into safe investments. St Bartholomew’s Hospital was also sold off after being badly damaged by the bombing in The Second World War and the proceeds of sale were used to modernise and extend St John’s Hospital, the latter is the only real estate remaining.
The Charity is now The Hospitals of St Bartholomew & St John and the almshouse building has been converted into seven self-contained flats with all mod cons; a comfortable retirement home run on kindness. In accordance with the standards of The Almshouse Association, the residents enjoy peace, privacy, companionship and security under the protection of the ten trustees and the very caring and conscientious Prioress.
There was a Service of Thanksgiving in the Parish Church attended by over one hundred people, followed by a very good buffet, a well attended exhibition of the Hospitals’ Archives in The Town Hall and the unveiling of a commemorative plaque on the remaining Almshouse by Lady Colgrain, Lord Lieutenant of Kent. The building was then blessed by The present Bishop of Rochester, whose predecessor had re-founded St Bartholomew’s Hospital all those years ago. Association CEO, Nick Phillips was invited, but unfortunately unable to attend and it was with great pleasure that he received this wonderful article and photos after the event.
750th Anniversary Celebrations – 24th August, 2024
posted 18 September 2024