< Back to Heritage Gateway
Berkshire Archaeology HER logo

Any Questions? Please try here first



Name: Reading Abbey - Hospitium
HER Number: RD15563
Record Type: Monument

Grid Reference: SU 717 736
Administrative Area/Parish:Reading, Reading, Berkshire
Map:Show location on Streetmap

Summary

The Hospitium of St. John the Baptist for 13 poor people founded by the Abbey in the 1190s.

Monument Type(s):

  • FINDSPOT (Medieval - 1066 AD? to 1539 AD?)
  • HOSPITAL (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • WALL (Medieval - 1066 AD? to 1539 AD?)

Description

The Hospitium of St. John the Baptist for 13 poor people founded by the Abbey in the 1190s. It also consisted of guest apartments for possibly up to 400 people. It stood to the north of St Laurence's Church whose north aisle served as the hospital's chapel. The hospital appears to have elapsed in the 15th century and the building was converted into a grammar school (SMR 02113.15.00).

During internal alterations at the Hospitium in 1927, 3 wall foundations and two skeletons were found in a trench. The skeletons were reburied in St Laurence's Churchyard. Recorded by William Smallcombe 06/05/1927 <6>.


<1> Hurry, J B, 1901, Reading Abbey (Bibliographic reference). SRD6886.


<2> Lysons D & S, 1813, Magna Brittania I, Page 339 (Bibliographic reference). SRD6883.


<3> 1907, Victoria County History of Berkshire II, Pages 97-8 (Bibliographic reference). SRD6882.


<4> Kemp B R, 1968, Reading Abbey: An Introduction to the History of the Abbey (Bibliographic reference). SRD6872.


<5> Cram, Leslie, 1988, Reading Abbey (Bibliographic reference). SRD12631.


<6> Reading Museum, REDMG: 2016.49.A1 (Excavation archive). SRM15190.

Sources

<1>Hurry, J B. 1901. Reading Abbey. [Bibliographic reference / SRD6886]
<2>Lysons D & S. 1813. Magna Brittania I. Part 2. Page 339. [Bibliographic reference / SRD6883]
<3>1907. Victoria County History of Berkshire II. Pages 97-8. [Bibliographic reference / SRD6882]
<4>Kemp B R. 1968. Reading Abbey: An Introduction to the History of the Abbey. [Bibliographic reference / SRD6872]
<5>Cram, Leslie. 1988. Reading Abbey. [Bibliographic reference / SRD12631]
<6>Reading Museum. REDMG: 2016.49.A1. [Excavation archive / SRM15190]

Designations

  • Listed Building (II) 1113402: MUNICIPAL BUILDINGS
  • Scheduled Monument 1007932: Reading Abbey: a Cluniac and Benedictine monastery and Civil War earthwork.

Associated Events:

  • None

    • Associated Monuments

    MRD1374Reading Abbey, Reading, Berkshire (Monument)
    MRD1374Reading Abbey, Reading, Berkshire (Monument)
    MRD1374Reading Abbey, Reading, Berkshire (Monument)
    MRD1374Reading Abbey, Reading, Berkshire (Monument)
    MRD15564St Laurence Church, Reading, Berkshire (Monument)

    Associated Finds:

  • FRM14640 - HUMAN REMAINS (Medieval - 1066 AD? to 1539 AD?)

    • Search results generated by the HBSMR Gateway from exeGesIS SDM Ltd.