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| Name: | Cathedral Priory Infirmary |
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| HER Reference: | WCM96381 |
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| Type of record: | Monument |
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| Grid Reference: | SO 849 545 |
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| Map Sheet: | SO85SW |
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| Parish: | Worcester (Non Civil Parish), Worcester City, Worcestershire |
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| Worcestershire |
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| Worcester, Worcestershire |
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Monument Types
- INFIRMARY (MEDIEVAL - 1066 AD to 1539 AD (between))
- INFIRMARY (POST MEDIEVAL - 1540 AD to 1900 AD (between))
Protected Status
Full description
A notional/arbitrary area adjoining the north side of the reredorter building (WCM 96380) that is likely to have contained buildings that collectively formed part of the monastic infirmary complex.
There is no clear evidence of the extent of the infirmary, and no comprehensive list of its component buildings or rooms, though it certainly adjoined the dorter/reredorter block and most probably made use of spaces available within those structures (see below).
The basic documentary evidence for the location of the infirmary comes from the allocation at the Dissolution of the 'Infirmarius' (Infirmarer's lodging) to stall 5, the house of that stall being at the west end of the cathedral, until its demolition in 1851. The house of the 'master of the chapel' 'with the sites of the infirmary and infirmary chapel, was to be divided between the prebends of the eighth and ninth stalls'. The houses of the stall 5 and 8 prebends fell down in 1617 and were soon after rebuilt. In 1671 it was ordered that the 'vault under the late infirmary be filled up or otherwise secured' unless the incumbents of stalls 5 or 8 had any use for it. The house of stall 5 stood north of the reredorter, west of the church, until it was demolished in 1851. The house of stall 8 was newly built after the Dissolution north of the reredorter, partly overhanging the river; it was demolished in 1843. The house of the 9th stall was said in 1649 to be part stone part timber. It was rebuilt in brick ?at the end of the 18th century, but mostly demolished in 1874.
According to Harold Brakspear's analysis of the reredorter building (WCM 96380) it is probable that the two lower floors of that building had also been used as part of the infirmary complex. But in addition to those two storeys 'there was a chapel, the infirmarer's lodging and checker, and the barbery, which were apparently on the north side of the reredorter'. There would also, he argued, have been a separate infirmary kitchen and he suggested this would have been on the south side of the reredorter {1}.
designation scheduled
check that this is actually listed (I think not) (JD)
Cross reference to: 96379, dorter range
Sources and further reading
| <1*> | Article in serial: Brakspear, H. 1916. On the Dorter Range at Worcester Priory. Archaeologia. Society of Antiquities of London, London. 67 (1915-16). 197-9. |
| <2> | Article in serial: Greatrex, J. 1998. The layout of the monastic church, cloister and precinct of Worcester: evidence in the written records. Archaeology at Worcester Cathedral, report of the eighth annual symposium. Guy, C, Worcester Cathedral, Worcester. 1998. 12-18. |
| <3> | Article in serial: Willis, R. 1863. Architectural History of the Cathedral and Monastery of Worcester. Archaeol J. 20. II, ii; pp.301-303. |
| <4> | Monograph: Noake, J. 1866. The Monastery and Cathedral of Worcester. Published in London. 373-378. |
Related records
| WCM96350 | Part of: The Cathedral Precinct (Monument) |
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