Hospital of St John Baptist without the Barrs, Lichfield
Encyclopedia
The Hospital of St John Baptist without the Barrs is a Grade I listed building and sheltered housing complex with adjacent chapel in the city of Lichfield
, Staffordshire
in the United Kingdom
The building has ancient roots, once providing accommodation to travellers outside the southern city walls who would arrive in Lichfield after the gates had closed for the night. The distinctive eight chimneys fronting St John’s Street date back to the Tudor period
when the hospital served as an almshouse
for elderly gentlemen in the city.
was appointed Bishop of Lichfield. He built a new cathedral fortified the Cathedral Close and laid out a new town. Finally he constructed a defensive ditch and walls around the city. There were four gates or ‘barrs’ allowing movement in and out of the city walls, which were closed at 8 or 9 at night and reopened at 7 in the morning.
This created a problem for pilgrims and travellers to the city who arrived after the gates had closed for the night. At this time Lichfield was a popular place for pilgrims as the new cathedral housed a shrine with the remains of St Chad. To provide shelter for these many pilgrims and travellers outside the city walls, Bishop de Clinton ordered the building of a priory just outside the southern gate where the road from London entered the city. The priory was completed in 1135 and the Bishop installed Augustinian Canons
with solemn vows to provide food and shelter for the travellers. This priory brought into being 'The Hospital of St John Baptist without the Barrs’ (hospital referred to a place of hospitality and not to health care).
Adjacent to the southern city gates a chapel was built (where it stands today). South of the chapel a long stone building was built to provide a home to the Augustinian Canons and where the travellers and pilgrims were accommodated. For the next 300 years, St John’s carried out the function of serving travellers and pilgrims coming to Lichfield.
was appointed Bishop of Lichfield he aimed to put St John’s to better use. In 1495 Bishop Smyth refounded the priory as a hospital for aged men. It was ordained that there should be “thirteen honest poor men upon whom the inconveniences of old age and poverty without any fault of their own, had fallen”. In addition to their lodging the men would receive seven pence a week. Bishop Smyth initiated the rebuilding of the Canons hall. A three storey Masters Hall was built to the west of the chapel and a new wing was added south of the chapel. The new Tudor building with its row of eight chimneys provided a great advance with each resident having his own room and fireplace. This is the building we see today fronting St John’s Street currently. In 1720 the Masters Hall was rebuilt once again by Edward Maynard to keep with modern Georgian
architectural tastes. The stone tablet above the doorway also dates from 1720.
By the end of the 17th century through neglect the chapel has fallen into a ruinous state. Throughout the 19th Century under the care of Philip Hayman Dod, the master of the hospital, the chapel was restored. In 1829 an aisle was built on its north side, the former wall being replaced by a three bay arcade, a stone bell-cote containing one bell was placed above the east end of the north aisle. The gallery in the north aisle was removed, and the arcade was rebuilt in a more orthodox Gothic style. Medieval windows in the south wall of the chapel also appear to have been renewed. The chapel was reseated, and most of the 17th- and 18th-century fittings, which had included a three-decker pulpit, were cleared away. In 1870 the walls and nave were raised, buttresses were added to the outside of the south wall and a new high pitched roof was installed.
with a house for the warden and a two storey building with four two bedroomed flats. It was in the 1960s when married couples were allowed to take residence in the hospital. In 1984 the stained glass in the east window of the chapel was replaced by a magnificent interpretation of ‘Christ in Majesty’ by John Piper
.
Today approximately 16 men or married couples are accommodated permanently. Prayers for Bishops Clinton and Smyth are said each morning (except Friday) in the chapel and the residents are expected to attend these services. The chapel remains a place of public worship, and the master ministers to a regular congregation. During the last forty years or so the services have been of an Anglo-Catholic nature. At the present time there is a Sung Eucharist every Sunday, Monday and Wednesday, and baptisms, weddings, and burial services are held in the chapel.
. The buildings on the site were formerly used by the Lichfield Theological College which closed in 1972. After the college's closure the house was let to the trustess of St John's Hospital, who demolished the 19th century buildings (with the exception of the chapel) and replaced them with the current building which today serves as a sheltered housing complex for retired people. The residents of St John's within the Close attend services in the chapel of St John's without the Barrs.
Lichfield
Lichfield is a cathedral city, civil parish and district in Staffordshire, England. One of eight civil parishes with city status in England, Lichfield is situated roughly north of Birmingham...
, Staffordshire
Staffordshire
Staffordshire is a landlocked county in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes, the county is a NUTS 3 region and is one of four counties or unitary districts that comprise the "Shropshire and Staffordshire" NUTS 2 region. Part of the National Forest lies within its borders...
in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
The building has ancient roots, once providing accommodation to travellers outside the southern city walls who would arrive in Lichfield after the gates had closed for the night. The distinctive eight chimneys fronting St John’s Street date back to the Tudor period
Tudor period
The Tudor period usually refers to the period between 1485 and 1603, specifically in relation to the history of England. This coincides with the rule of the Tudor dynasty in England whose first monarch was Henry VII...
when the hospital served as an almshouse
Almshouse
Almshouses are charitable housing provided to enable people to live in a particular community...
for elderly gentlemen in the city.
1129–1495
In 1129, Roger de ClintonRoger de Clinton
Roger de Clinton was a medieval Bishop of Coventry and Lichfield. He was responsible for organising a new grid street plan for the town of Lichfield in the 12th century which survives to this day.-Life:...
was appointed Bishop of Lichfield. He built a new cathedral fortified the Cathedral Close and laid out a new town. Finally he constructed a defensive ditch and walls around the city. There were four gates or ‘barrs’ allowing movement in and out of the city walls, which were closed at 8 or 9 at night and reopened at 7 in the morning.
This created a problem for pilgrims and travellers to the city who arrived after the gates had closed for the night. At this time Lichfield was a popular place for pilgrims as the new cathedral housed a shrine with the remains of St Chad. To provide shelter for these many pilgrims and travellers outside the city walls, Bishop de Clinton ordered the building of a priory just outside the southern gate where the road from London entered the city. The priory was completed in 1135 and the Bishop installed Augustinian Canons
Canons Regular
Canons Regular are members of certain bodies of Canons living in community under the Augustinian Rule , and sharing their property in common...
with solemn vows to provide food and shelter for the travellers. This priory brought into being 'The Hospital of St John Baptist without the Barrs’ (hospital referred to a place of hospitality and not to health care).
Adjacent to the southern city gates a chapel was built (where it stands today). South of the chapel a long stone building was built to provide a home to the Augustinian Canons and where the travellers and pilgrims were accommodated. For the next 300 years, St John’s carried out the function of serving travellers and pilgrims coming to Lichfield.
1495 – 20th century
By the middle of the 15th century the city gates had fallen into disuse and would be left open. When William SmythWilliam Smyth
William Smyth was Bishop of Coventry and Lichfield from 1493 to 1496 and then Bishop of Lincoln until his death. He held political offices, the most important being Lord President of the Council of Wales and the Marches. He became very wealthy and was a benefactor of a number of institutions...
was appointed Bishop of Lichfield he aimed to put St John’s to better use. In 1495 Bishop Smyth refounded the priory as a hospital for aged men. It was ordained that there should be “thirteen honest poor men upon whom the inconveniences of old age and poverty without any fault of their own, had fallen”. In addition to their lodging the men would receive seven pence a week. Bishop Smyth initiated the rebuilding of the Canons hall. A three storey Masters Hall was built to the west of the chapel and a new wing was added south of the chapel. The new Tudor building with its row of eight chimneys provided a great advance with each resident having his own room and fireplace. This is the building we see today fronting St John’s Street currently. In 1720 the Masters Hall was rebuilt once again by Edward Maynard to keep with modern Georgian
Georgian architecture
Georgian architecture is the name given in most English-speaking countries to the set of architectural styles current between 1720 and 1840. It is eponymous for the first four British monarchs of the House of Hanover—George I of Great Britain, George II of Great Britain, George III of the United...
architectural tastes. The stone tablet above the doorway also dates from 1720.
By the end of the 17th century through neglect the chapel has fallen into a ruinous state. Throughout the 19th Century under the care of Philip Hayman Dod, the master of the hospital, the chapel was restored. In 1829 an aisle was built on its north side, the former wall being replaced by a three bay arcade, a stone bell-cote containing one bell was placed above the east end of the north aisle. The gallery in the north aisle was removed, and the arcade was rebuilt in a more orthodox Gothic style. Medieval windows in the south wall of the chapel also appear to have been renewed. The chapel was reseated, and most of the 17th- and 18th-century fittings, which had included a three-decker pulpit, were cleared away. In 1870 the walls and nave were raised, buttresses were added to the outside of the south wall and a new high pitched roof was installed.
20th century
In 1929 the resident’s rooms were rearranged to overlook a central quadrangle. The rooms were also upgraded with new gas heating and sanitation facilities. In 1958 the Masters House was renovated with the top floor converted into flats. In 1966/67 the south and western sides of the quadrangle were constructed by Louis de Soissons ArchitectsLouis de Soissons
Louis E J G de Savoie-Carignan de Soissons , was the younger son of Charles, the Count de Soissons. An architect, he was called for professional purposes Louis de Soissons...
with a house for the warden and a two storey building with four two bedroomed flats. It was in the 1960s when married couples were allowed to take residence in the hospital. In 1984 the stained glass in the east window of the chapel was replaced by a magnificent interpretation of ‘Christ in Majesty’ by John Piper
John Piper (artist)
John Egerton Christmas Piper, CH was a 20th-century English painter and printmaker. For much of his life he lived at Fawley Bottom in Buckinghamshire, near Henley-on-Thames.-Life:...
.
21st century
In 2001 the original 1495 east wing was extended with external staircases attached to the quadrangle side. The accommodation was also renovated to modern 21st century standards. A sculpture of ‘Noah and the Dove’ designed by Simon Manby was commissioned by the trustees in 2006 and stands in the quadrangle.Today approximately 16 men or married couples are accommodated permanently. Prayers for Bishops Clinton and Smyth are said each morning (except Friday) in the chapel and the residents are expected to attend these services. The chapel remains a place of public worship, and the master ministers to a regular congregation. During the last forty years or so the services have been of an Anglo-Catholic nature. At the present time there is a Sung Eucharist every Sunday, Monday and Wednesday, and baptisms, weddings, and burial services are held in the chapel.
St John's within The Close
A second branch of the almshouse was opened in 1981 in a building opposite the south door of Lichfield CathedralLichfield Cathedral
Lichfield Cathedral is situated in Lichfield, Staffordshire, England. It is the only medieval English cathedral with three spires. The Diocese of Lichfield covers all of Staffordshire, much of Shropshire and part of the Black Country and West Midlands...
. The buildings on the site were formerly used by the Lichfield Theological College which closed in 1972. After the college's closure the house was let to the trustess of St John's Hospital, who demolished the 19th century buildings (with the exception of the chapel) and replaced them with the current building which today serves as a sheltered housing complex for retired people. The residents of St John's within the Close attend services in the chapel of St John's without the Barrs.
See also
- Medieval fortificationMedieval fortificationMedieval fortification is military methods of Medieval technology that covers the development of fortification construction and use in Europe roughly from the fall of the Western Roman Empire to the Renaissance...
- Tudor ArchitectureTudor architectureThe Tudor architectural style is the final development of medieval architecture during the Tudor period and even beyond, for conservative college patrons...
- AlmshouseAlmshouseAlmshouses are charitable housing provided to enable people to live in a particular community...
- Sheltered housingSheltered housingSheltered housing is a British English term covering a wide range of rented housing for older and/or disabled or other vulnerable people. Most commonly it refers to grouped housing such as a block or "scheme" of flats or bungalows with a scheme manager or "officer"; traditionally the manager has...
- Bishop William SmythWilliam SmythWilliam Smyth was Bishop of Coventry and Lichfield from 1493 to 1496 and then Bishop of Lincoln until his death. He held political offices, the most important being Lord President of the Council of Wales and the Marches. He became very wealthy and was a benefactor of a number of institutions...