Building record 179/5 - Site of Hospital of St Nicholas, Hospital Street

<1> Harris, B.E. (ed), 1987, Victoria County History - A History of the County of Chester: Volume I, Vol 3, p.186-7, Harris B, 1980 (Book). SCH3556.

The medieval hospital for indigents and travellers of St Nicholas, stood at the east end of Hospital Street. Traditionally it is said to have been founded by William Malbank, first baron of Wich Malbank, in 1084-5. In 14th C hospital was governed by a master or warden who also held the hospital chapel-the free Chapel of St Nicholas. Advowson of hospital eventually passed to the Crown, until it was suppressed in 1548. After suppression hospital building and chapel were granted to Sir Thomas Bramley, Justice of King's Bench, together with lands consisting of an orchard, crofts, 2 houses with orchards and 2 salt houses in Nantwich. 1638 Sir Edmund Wright built an almshouse for 6 poor men on site of former hospital.

<2> Various, Various, Oral communication to the HER, Wilson D, 1986 (Oral Communication). SCH2330.

Excavation of part of the site of the almshouses failed to reveal any medieval structures.

<3> Knowles, D & Hadcock, RN, 1953, Medieval Religious Houses: England and Wales, p.327 & 377 (Book). SCH2177.

<4> Ordnance Survey, 1870-1982, Ordnance Survey Archaeological Record Card, 1981, SJ65SE17 (Index). SCH2487.

<5> Hall J, 1883, A History of the Town and Parish of Nantwich or Wich-Malbank in the County Palatine of Chester (Book). SCH80.

The 'hospital house' was used as a private house. Hall identifies it as the residence of John Crewe (d 1598) and says that stone remains, possibly Norman, were found during alterations in the 19th C.

<6> Simpson R, 1991, Crewe and Nantwich. A pictorial history., plate 25 (Monograph). SCH1018.

Simpson identifies the house as the present 140 Hospital Street. This building has a plaque upon it which also suggests that it is on the site of the hospital.

<7> Nantwich Town Council, 1977, Walkabout tour of Nantwich, p.7 (Booklet-Leaflet). SCH7371.

140 Hospital Street stands on the site of the Hospice of St Nicholas believed t have been founded by the first Baron of Wich Malbanc circa 1083.

<8> County Historic Environment Record, 1973-1985, Cheshire Archaeological Bulletin, Issue 5, p.40 (Journal/Periodical). SCH565.

Excavations carried out in 1976 by David Wilson, on behalf of Cheshire County Council, to the rear of the 140 Hospital Street to investigate the site of the medieval Hospital of St Nicholas (CHER 179/5). The stratification had been damaged by the lowering of the garden level which had removed the post medieval layers and cut into the medieval; this would not have destroyed any structural evidence should the hospital have been sited there. A considerable amount of medieval pottery was found, both green-glazed and unglazed.