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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