More information : (TL 53508022) St John's Farm (NAT) (1)
The remains of the Medieval hospitals of St Mary Magdalene and
St John the Baptist now from the present day St John's Farm and
its outbuildings. St Mary Magdalene's Hospital is recorded in
1171-2 and is said to have been founded by Bishop Nigel (died
1169). The hospital of St John the Baptist was founded in the
13th century or earlier for a community of not more than 13,
including chaplains and lay brothers. The two hospitals were
united before 1254 under the name of St John the Baptist. It
probably ceased to function as a hospital by 1500, and was
suppressed in 1561 when the site was granted to Clare College,
Cambridge.
See plan annotated from information received from the
Department of the Environment for extant monuments as follows:
St John's Farmhouse, Grade 1. A 16th-17th century, two storey
brick and stone house incororating a Medieval timber frame. The
north front is plastered and the south front has Medieval
stonework.
Barn to the north of the farmhouse, Grade 1. This is the most
important of the remaining buildings and is believed to have
been the chapel of St Mary. It is now a simple, rectangular
structure measuring 41 feet by 25 feet and was apparently the
nave of the hospital chapel. There is now no clear evidence of a
chancel. The building is mainly 16th century, of stone and brick
with much re-used Medieval stone. The north wall incorporates
the remains of a 13th century pointed arcade with quadruple
shafts. Segments of simple shafts are built into the east wall.
Scheduled.
Dovecote, Grade 1. A small, Medieval rectangular building of
stone with brick patching, measuring 20 feet by 19 feet. It was
probably originally a domestic building attached to the 13th
century St Mary's hospital and later as a dovecote.
Barn 130 yards west of farmhouse, Grade 1. A Medieval building,
believed to have been the chapel of St John and of very early
13th century date. The north wall has four plain lancet windows,
now blocked and there is a 13th century pointed arched doorway,
also blocked. Above the doorway is a carved stone, much
weathered, representing a man riding on an ox and blowing a
horn. It is possibly of 8th century date and it is conjectured
(4) that it could have come from the Anglo-Saxon monastery of St
Etheldreda (see TL 58 SW 3). Scheduled.
A stone rubble wall (Grade 2) also incorporates reused Medieval
stone. (2-8)
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