At the time of its founding the hospital had a warden, twelve chaplains, six clerks, 12 poor brothers, and 12 poor sisters. During the age of Edward I, priests replaced sisters. Abbot Samson from the male monastery of Bury is considered to be the founder.
Wardens
According to the In 1292 sisters received 5 shillings per year and male clerks and laymen receive 6 shillings, 8 d. per year by order of Abbott John who insisted on poverty. Sisters were dismissed from the community during the reign of Edward I, approximately 1272. (Elkins)
The hospital was a dependency of the male monastery, Bury S. Edmunds.
The land and buildings for the hospital were donated by the male monastery of Bury S. Edmunds. The original grant, confirmed by John de Gray, bishop of Norwich on the 16 of July 1206, was made up of £13 of silver from the village of Icklingham; two portions and some tithes from the church of Melford; eight acres of corn in Cockfield; and the houses at 'Telefort,' which owed Bury S. Edmunds an annual service of 2s., and to the canons 12d.
In 1291 the value of the hospital was £10.
Income came from rents and tithes. According to a charter of Abbot John, 6 shillings 8 pence were paid to clerks & laymen; 5 shillings were paid to sisters in 1292. At this point, the hospital was further endowed with 10 acres of land and two acres of meadow that lay near the south gate. In addition, the hospital was granted 22s. in rents from the town. (Harl. MS. 638, fol. 138.)
[1]Liber Niger, male monastery Bury (About 1184 )
[2] The Bishop of Norwich confirms the founding as recorded in the first document, (1206).
During Henyr VIII's suppression of the monasteries, the hospital was sold to Sir John Williams and Anthony Stringer in February, 1542-3. They immediately sold it again to Nicholas Bacon and Henry Ashfield. The hospital eventually was sold to the St. John's College, Cambridge.
Victoria History of the County of Suffolk2:135-36 available online at ">http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=37929&strquery=st.%2... [Victoria County History]
Dugdale's Monasticon Volume 6 Part 2
Hospitals of God's House, St. Nicholas, St. Peter, and St. Saviour, at Bury St. Edmund's, in Suffolk
Hospital persisted without sisters to about 1539.
Income field: 6 sul 8 del to clks & laymen ; 5 sul to sis , 1292 = interpreted as 6 shillings 8 pence were paid to clerks & laymen; 5 shillings were paid to sisters in 1292.
