The Great Hospital is a medieval hospital that has been serving the people of Norwich in Norfolk, UK, since the 13th century. It is linked to the Church of England Cathedral next to it.

It is situated on a site in a bend of the River Wensum to the north-east of Norwich Cathedral. Founded in 1249 by Bishop Walter de Suffield, the hospital was originally known as Giles's Hospital. What makes the hospital notable today is its history of continuous care, the range of existing medieval buildings on the hospital grounds (most of which are still in use), and the extensive archives that record the hospital's long history.

History

The original beneficiaries of the new hospital in 1249 were aged priests, poor scholars, and sick and hungry paupers. Clerics remained unmarried in this period, so they had no family to support them in old age. The poor scholars, boys selected on merit from local song schools, were to receive a daily meal during term times. This was to continue until the boy had achieved a good grasp of Latin. With this help, bright but poor boys were given the chance to train as choristers or even to enter the priesthood. The plans were passed and the demolition and new building work commenced during 2011. These plans include six additional flats to be added to Prior Court, the redesign of the main carpark and a new workshop to be built on the site of the current garages.

The new two-storey block of 18 flats now called Holme Terrace is almost fully occupied and the refurbished Prior Court should start taking in residents within the next few weeks.

The Great Hospital is part of Norwich 12.

Buildings

thumb|A plaque detailing the construction of Birkbeck Hall. The plaque reads 'This hall was built by many of his friends and admirers in memory of Henry Birkbeck Esqre of [[Stoke Holy Cross for many years chairman of this Hospital A.D 1901' The painting above is of Birkbeck]]

The Hospital has 9 listed buildings:(all information from The Historic England website)

{|

! Building !! Listing !! List UID !! Date Listed

|-

! Birkbeck Hall

| Grade II

| 1051369

| 26 February 1954

|-

! Cloisters and West Wall of the Former Chapter house

| Grade I

| 1280660

| 26 February 1954

|-

! Former Chaplain's House

| Grade I

| 1205562

| 26 February 1954

|-

! Former Master's house

| Grade I

| 1205544

| 26 February 1954

|-

! Part of Former Master's House

| Grade I

| 1051368

| 26 February 1954

|-

! Refectory and part of Former Master's House

| Grade I

| 1372739

| 26 February 1954

|-

! The Lodge

| Grade II

| 1372740

| 26 February 1954

|-

! East Wards

| Grade II

| 1372741

| 5 June 1972

|-

! White Cottages

| Grade

| 1051370

| 5 June 1972

|}

St. Helen's House is a Grade II* Listed building currently in use at the nursing home, but is not part of the Great Hospital as it was originally a residence separate from the Hospital. The house has a painting said to be the work of Angelica Kauffman.

Masters of the Great Hospital

The Head of the Great Hospital is called 'Master'. Hamon de Calthorpe was the first Master in 1256, and sixty-four Masters have followed him until the present day. Substantial changes that modernised the Great Hospital and ensured that it was a model community for the elderly going into the twenty-first century were initiated by Jack Davies Shaw, Master from 1965 until 1980. The first female Master was Dorothy North from 2000 until 2007, and the current Master is Gina Dormer.

References

  • The Great Hospital Online