More information : (TQ 0197 0708) Maison Dieu (GT) (rems of) (TI) (1)
Hospital of Holy Trinity Maison Dieu founded c 1380, dissolved
1546. (2)
Maison Dieu or Hospital of the Holy Trinity, built 1395,
dissolved 1546. Extensive remains still visible.
(See AO/F/52/106-8). (3)
Remains of two buildings are extant. To the north of the modern
road there are fragmentary stretches of chalk random rubble
walling with greensand dressings, of a building 24.0m by 9.0m,
the walling standing to a height of 4.0m. There are no dateable
features. The south wall extends beyond the building westwards
for 8.0m.
South of the road is a more complete building, 16.0m by 8.0m,
walls standing to 6.5m height at the upper gable ends. Lower
walling is of chalk, the upper of rough knapped flints. Door and
window openings show greensand dressings, but the remains are
insufficient to date.
Resurveyed at 1/2500. (4)
Remains of Maison Dieu - a roofless rectangular building of clunch and flint with all the dressed stones removed. It was apparently the west side of a quadrangle - now a rose garden. (5)
Former hospital of the Holy Trinity. Some ruinous walls of coursed rubble, including flints and clunch. Extends both sides of Mill Road. Listed Grade II. (6)
Discussion of medieval hospitals in Sussex. Maison Dieu is regarded as the most important private foundation. (7)
Small-scale excavation in 1965 produced `disappointing' results, but among the finds were items pre-dating the foundation, including late 13th century imported Rouen Ware among the redeposited rubbish. (8)
Discussion of an apothecary's mortar found at Maison Dieu during repairs in 1937. (9)
Listed. (10)
The site of the Maison Dieu was first identified in the gentleman's Magazine of 1793. Research in the late 1980s has shown that the remaining buildings are in fact those of the Dominican Friary, (TQ00NW106). The true site of the Maison Dieu, which was attached to the parish church when founded circa 1380, is attached to the churchyard. The northern part of the west wall of the churchyard in its lower courses contains flint and stonework, including blocked windows and doorways of 14th or 15th century character. A survey of the property of the Earl of Arundel dated 1636 mentions an almshouse standing west of the churchyard. [NGR altered to TQ01590725]. (11) |