St Nicholas Hospital, St Andrews
Encyclopedia
St Nicholas Hospital was a medieval hospital in St Andrews
, Fife
. It was located around what is today St Nicholas farmhouse at the Steading, between Albany Park and the East Sands Leisure Centre. Of unknown origin, the establishment served as a hospice
for lepers outside the town between the beach at East Sands and the old coastal route. Parts of the hospital complex have been excavated in the 20th century, with rumours of a graveyard.
s in Powgavie (near Inchture
in Gowrie
) by Hugh Giffard, dated between 1178 and 1185. The other is a grant by Roger de Beaumont
(died 1202), bishop of St Andrews, datable 1189–1195, granted the house the right to send a cart to the "muir of Crail" (King's Muir) to obtain heather
. Both charters survive in 16th-century confirmations to the Dominican Order
, both directly and indirectly from a confirmation of 1540 (Registrum magni sigilli regum Scotorum, vol. iii no. 2032). The same document reveals that St Nicholas also held the land of Peekie and a toft
and croft
at Lundin (between Leven
and Largo).
The house functioned as a home for lepers until at least March 1438. It is referred to for the last time as a leper house in a document dating to 14 March 1438, but is called a "poor house" in another document dating to 12 May. In 1529 it was taken over by the Dominicans, becoming attached to their local house, Blackfriars, St Andrews
. It was still in use in 1583, when an endowment of victual was made for its poor.
The hospital and its graveyard was located around the farm which became known as St Nicholas' farm (today a bed and breakfast
with the dependent buildings converted into houses). The letter-book of James Haldenston
, prior of St Andrews
, reveals that the township
was also called Liberton ("Leper toun"). The farmer at St Nicholas is said to have discovered 30 bodies in the vicinity of the farmhouse in the late 1950s.
) built against the wall's east face. Medieval pottery was found, and the building appears to have been levelled in either the 14th or 15th century. More of the wall was uncovered in 1993, and in 1994 excavations took place along the Interceptor Sewer Pipeline (between Pipeland Cottage and St Nicholas farmhouse) after a bronze hoard and a few stone axes were found in the area. Two trenches at the farm revealed animal bones, pottery fragments, and a 18th or 19th century field drain.
In February and March 1997 more excavations uncovered a wall of a large building with 16th-century green-glazed pottery, along with a smaller wall, perhaps coming from 16th- or 17th-century redevelopment. Further archaeological activity in 1999, in advance of the construction of a nursery south of the Leisure Centre and south-west of the 1987 area, unearthed a cobbled road and bones from four humans who lived from, 1530x1310 BC, 130x390 AD, 430x650 AD, and 530x660 AD.
St Andrews
St Andrews is a university town and former royal burgh on the east coast of Fife in Scotland. The town is named after Saint Andrew the Apostle.St Andrews has a population of 16,680, making this the fifth largest settlement in Fife....
, Fife
Fife
Fife is a council area and former county of Scotland. It is situated between the Firth of Tay and the Firth of Forth, with inland boundaries to Perth and Kinross and Clackmannanshire...
. It was located around what is today St Nicholas farmhouse at the Steading, between Albany Park and the East Sands Leisure Centre. Of unknown origin, the establishment served as a hospice
Hospice
Hospice is a type of care and a philosophy of care which focuses on the palliation of a terminally ill patient's symptoms.In the United States and Canada:*Gentiva Health Services, national provider of hospice and home health services...
for lepers outside the town between the beach at East Sands and the old coastal route. Parts of the hospital complex have been excavated in the 20th century, with rumours of a graveyard.
Leper house and poor house
The hospital lay on the lands of Kinkell, once belonging to the Céli Dé of St Andrews. The earliest notices of the leper house appear to date to the late 12th century. Perhaps the earliest record, a grant of 2 oxgangOxgang
An oxgang or bovate is an old land measurement formerly used in Scotland and England. It averaged around 20 English acres, but was based on land fertility and cultivation, and so could be as low as 15.Skene in Celtic Scotland says:...
s in Powgavie (near Inchture
Inchture
Inchture is a village in Scotland on the A90 trunk road between Perth and Dundee on the northern side of the Firth of Tay. It is approximately nine miles from Dundee city centre and 13 miles from Perth centre...
in Gowrie
Gowrie
Gowrie may refer to several places:* Gowrie, a province in Scotland** Carse of Gowrie, the southern part of Gowrie noted for its farmlandGowrie may also refer to:* Gowrie, Australian Capital Territory, a suburb of Canberra, Australia...
) by Hugh Giffard, dated between 1178 and 1185. The other is a grant by Roger de Beaumont
Roger de Beaumont (bishop)
Roger de Beaumont was Bishop of St Andrews .-Life:He was the son of Robert de Beaumont, 3rd Earl of Leicester. Roger's position as a younger son of the Earl of Leicester meant that Roger had to seek a fortune elsewhere, and did so withiin the church...
(died 1202), bishop of St Andrews, datable 1189–1195, granted the house the right to send a cart to the "muir of Crail" (King's Muir) to obtain heather
Calluna
Calluna vulgaris is the sole species in the genus Calluna in the family Ericaceae. It is a low-growing perennial shrub growing to tall, or rarely to and taller, and is found widely in Europe and Asia Minor on acidic soils in open sunny situations and in moderate shade...
. Both charters survive in 16th-century confirmations to the Dominican Order
Dominican Order
The Order of Preachers , after the 15th century more commonly known as the Dominican Order or Dominicans, is a Catholic religious order founded by Saint Dominic and approved by Pope Honorius III on 22 December 1216 in France...
, both directly and indirectly from a confirmation of 1540 (Registrum magni sigilli regum Scotorum, vol. iii no. 2032). The same document reveals that St Nicholas also held the land of Peekie and a toft
Toft
Toft is a placename and surname of Norse origin. Placenames ending in "-toft" are usually derivations of the Old Norse word topt meaning site of a house. As a placename and placename particle, it occurs in Denmark, Scania , England, Shetland and Normandy...
and croft
Croft (land)
A croft is a fenced or enclosed area of land, usually small and arable with a crofter's dwelling thereon. A crofter is one who has tenure and use of the land, typically as a tenant farmer.- Etymology :...
at Lundin (between Leven
Leven, Fife
Leven is a seaside town in Fife, set in the east Central Lowlands of Scotland. It lies on the coast of the Firth of Forth at the mouth of the River Leven, north-east of Kirkcaldy and east of Glenrothes....
and Largo).
The house functioned as a home for lepers until at least March 1438. It is referred to for the last time as a leper house in a document dating to 14 March 1438, but is called a "poor house" in another document dating to 12 May. In 1529 it was taken over by the Dominicans, becoming attached to their local house, Blackfriars, St Andrews
Blackfriars, St Andrews
Blackfriars is the modern name for the Dominican friary of St Mary which existed in St Andrews, Scotland, in the later Middle Ages. The name is also used for the modern ruins.-History:...
. It was still in use in 1583, when an endowment of victual was made for its poor.
The hospital and its graveyard was located around the farm which became known as St Nicholas' farm (today a bed and breakfast
Bed and breakfast
A bed and breakfast is a small lodging establishment that offers overnight accommodation and breakfast, but usually does not offer other meals. Since the 1980s, the meaning of the term has also extended to include accommodations that are also known as "self-catering" establishments...
with the dependent buildings converted into houses). The letter-book of James Haldenston
James Haldenston
James Haldenston or James Haldenstoun was an Augustinian churchman from 15th-century Scotland. Probably from somewhere in eastern Fife, Haldenston became an Augustinian at St Andrews, earned several degrees on the continent, and became prior of May before becoming prior of St Andrews, head of the...
, prior of St Andrews
Prior of St Andrews
The Prior of St Andrews was the head of the property and community of Augustinian canons of St Andrews Cathedral Priory, St Andrews, Fife, Scotland. It was established by King David I in 1140 with canons from Nostell Priory, West Yorkshire...
, reveals that the township
Township (Scotland)
In Scotland a crofting township is a group of agricultural smallholdings holding in common a substantial tract of unimproved upland grazing...
was also called Liberton ("Leper toun"). The farmer at St Nicholas is said to have discovered 30 bodies in the vicinity of the farmhouse in the late 1950s.
Modern excavations around St Nicholas farmhouse
Between November 1986 and March 1987 excavation took place in the area, prior to the construction of the East Sands Leisure Centre and car park. It is thought that the excavation uncovered the western boundary-wall of the hospital with another building (possibly a bakeryBakery
A bakery is an establishment which produces and sells flour-based food baked in an oven such as bread, cakes, pastries and pies. Some retail bakeries are also cafés, serving coffee and tea to customers who wish to consume the baked goods on the premises.-See also:*Baker*Cake...
) built against the wall's east face. Medieval pottery was found, and the building appears to have been levelled in either the 14th or 15th century. More of the wall was uncovered in 1993, and in 1994 excavations took place along the Interceptor Sewer Pipeline (between Pipeland Cottage and St Nicholas farmhouse) after a bronze hoard and a few stone axes were found in the area. Two trenches at the farm revealed animal bones, pottery fragments, and a 18th or 19th century field drain.
In February and March 1997 more excavations uncovered a wall of a large building with 16th-century green-glazed pottery, along with a smaller wall, perhaps coming from 16th- or 17th-century redevelopment. Further archaeological activity in 1999, in advance of the construction of a nursery south of the Leisure Centre and south-west of the 1987 area, unearthed a cobbled road and bones from four humans who lived from, 1530x1310 BC, 130x390 AD, 430x650 AD, and 530x660 AD.