St Bartholomew’s Hospital
St Bartholomew’s Hospital in the “City” area of Newbury is probably the town’s oldest charity dating back to the time of King John or earlier. The first record of its existence is from 1215 when king John granted a charter to St Bartholomew's to hold an annual fair on St Bartholomew’s Day. This has led to the theory that he founded the hospital; as a result the almshouses are also known as King John’s Almshouses and bear the royal arms. Originally set up as a religious house supporting a priest and a number of poor brothers, it was fortunate to have declined into little more than an almshouse by the time of the dissolution of the monasteries. Had it not it would have come under the the terms of Henry VIII’s dissolution act and become crown property.
In 1598 the Commissioners under the Statute of Charitable Uses investigated the hospital and dismissed the trustees giving back full control of the almshouses and associated property to the Mayor and Corporation. The current buildings date back to 1698. The date 1839 on the rear of the building relates to a refurbishment at that time.
WHERE
Argyle Road, Newbury
WHEN BUILT
1698