City of Winchester UK
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ST JOHN’S WINCHESTER CHARITY

Formerly known as St John´s Hospital it is probably the oldest charitable foundation in the country. It is believed to have been founded by St Brinstan, Bishop of Winchester, in  AD 935 .
St John´s House and Chapel stands near the ancient (Anglo Saxon) Bucchestret, Buck Street, now called Busket Lane. Part of St John´s House has a vaulted Kitchen, which may have formed part of the original Saxon Almshouse.
13 th Century - St. John's House and Chapel of St. John's Hospital. Chapel and lower part of St. John's House13th Century fIint and stone. Ground floor, the original hall of the hospital, has a 13th Century lancet window. First and upper floors 18th Century. Stuccoed brick with stone dressings, and stone cornice above first floor window. Hipped old tile roof. Ground floor arched window. The Chapel has six lancet windows. Cornice between floors. Parapet, and very steep pitch roof. SU 484 293 13 th Century - St. John's House and Chapel of St. John's Hospital. Chapel and lower part of St. John's House13th Century fIint and stone. Ground floor, the original hall of the hospital, has a 13th Century lancet window. First and upper floors 18th Century. Stuccoed brick with stone dressings, and stone cornice above first floor window. Hipped old tile roof. Ground floor arched window. The Chapel has six lancet windows. Cornice between floors. Parapet, and very steep pitch roof. SU 484 293 Chapel from the North side

It is apparent from the records that the hospital has been around for a long time, although it is not clear what  the original hospital was for.  In 1289 it was re-founded by John Le Devenish, and has since continued to provide relief to the poor and needy.
In 1400 one Mark Le Faire, Mayor of Winchester, left several houses to the charity, including the `house under the penthouse wherein Mr Hodgson died´ and `the great inn called the George´

In 1428 a descendent of John Le Devenish, John Devenish, endowed the Chapel on the North side, for the more frequent performance of divine service in the Chapel.
Henry VIII confiscated some of the charities funds, but returned St John´s House to the City for the purpose of holding elections, and to retain a few of the beds.
The Chapel interior

The present building dates from 1428.
However there were two Chapels on the site long before this.
 A Chaplain was appointed in Edward  II´s reign, in 1310, to pray for the souls of English Kings and Queens.  Desecrated  during the reformation, and  used as a School in the 18th Century, the Chapel was finally reconsecrated in 1836.

In 1558 Ralph Lamb left a farm at Amesbury, Wiltshire, five tenements in the High Street, and one corner tenement and garden in St Thomas´, to fund the construction of six houses or chambers within the hospital, and to provide various quarterly and annual sums to the inmates.    TOP of PAGE

St. John's Hospital (north). Red brick with stone dressings. 2 storeys. Built in Tudor- Gothic style with Jacobean porches. Slate roofs with chimney clusters. Shaped Jacobean gables. Leaded lattice casement windows. Dated 1862 on rainwater heads. Architects. H.C. Brown and T. Stopher. SU 485 294 Part of the Garden, St John's North St. John's Hospital (north). Red brick with stone dressings. 2 storeys. Built in Tudor- Gothic style with Jacobean porches. Slate roofs with chimney clusters. Shaped Jacobean gables. Leaded lattice casement windows. Dated 1862 on rainwater heads. Architects. H.C. Brown and T. Stopher. SU 485 294

The control of the charity by the Mayor and City Corporation was confirmed by Elizabeth 1 in her Charter of the City in 1587.  This continued until 1811 when a group of almshouse residents and Parish Wardens petitioned in Chancery against the purported maladministration by the City Corporation who were using  funds for other purposes within the City. In 1829 the Court found in their favour and ordered that a charitable scheme be established.
Over the years several smaller Charities, including St Mary Magdalen and Christes Hospital amalgamated with St Johns to form St John´s Hospital and the Allied Charities. This was  changed again in 1984 to The St John´s Winchester Charity.
The charity is administered by thirteen Trustees, three are nominated by the City Council, one by the Bishop of Winchester, with the remainder being co-opted.
The present almshouses on the South side were built in 1833, and those on the North in 1856.
A plaque on the wall in the entrance to the South courtyard records some of the main benefactors.
Inner courtyard of St Johns South St John's South C.19 St. John's Hospital. Dated 1817, 1831 and 1833 on rainwater heads. 2 storeys with 3-storey tower at entrance. Grey brick walls with red diaper pattern and dressings. Stone quoins. Arch to main entrance. Machiolations on tower. Tiled roof, chimneys in clusters of octagonal shafts. Recent alterations. Part of the courtyard, StJohn's South
The covered walkway from the tower/gateway

Above Left: The river flows underneath the buildings. The round flowerbed is a well from which residents once drew their water.
New buildings in the grounds of St John's South
St John's South C.19 St. John's Hospital. Dated 1817, 1831 and 1833 on rainwater heads. 2 storeys with 3-storey tower at entrance. Grey brick walls with red diaper pattern and dressings. Stone quoins. Arch to main entrance. Machiolations on tower. Tiled roof, chimneys in clusters of octagonal shafts. Recent alterations.

The charity currently has 79 units of almshouse accommodation on four sites.  St John´s North and South in the Broadway, the new St Mary Magdalen Almshouses in Colebrook Street and Christes Hospital in Symonds Street.  These house between 90 and 100 residents.  Rent is payable on the accommodation, all of which has the benefit of a Matron or Warden and an emergency call system.  A community room, adapted minibus, and Day Centre are also provided.  Pastoral support is provided by the Chaplain, who takes regular services in the Chapel in the Broadway.        TOP of PAGE

Recent expansion of the Charities activities have resulted in the opening, in 1990, of Devenish House in Southgate Street.  This is a 20 bed nursing home providing nursing and residential care for the frail and elderly.  A number of beds are held open for short term convalescent and respite care.  These are sometimes available for needy elderly persons from the wider community.

In 1996 the charity opened Moorside in North Walls.  This is a 26 bed nursing home which provides nursing and residential care for the elderly mentally infirm, particularly those with dementia.  Access to the beds is similar to Devenish House.  Three of the beds are available for respite care.  A day centre operates Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays to support those caring at home for a relative with dementia.

For further information about the Charity, or the procedures for applying for almshouse accommodation, day care or respite care, please contact:

The Director, St John´s Winchester Charity, 32 St John´s South, The Broadway, Winchester,
SO23 9LN.  Tel:  +44 (0)1962  854226   Fax:  840602
E-mail: office@stjohnswinchester.co.uk    Website: www.stjohnswinchester.co.uk

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