110 ST. MARGARET'S HOSPITAL. 



old deeds show clearly that the Hospital was in existence long 

 before John of Gaunt's time, this is evidently an error, as John of 

 Gaunt was not created Duke of Lancaster until 1362. 



It is worthy of note that the Christian name of the special Duke 

 who is said to have erected it is left blank in the old account book 

 showing that those connected with the Charity (1572) were 

 ignorant of it. 



Hutchins accounts for the origin of this tradition from the fact 

 that the Hospital is situated within the Manor of Kingston Lacey, 

 which formerly was a part of the Duchy of Lancaster ; and it is 

 very probable that the Hospital may have been repaired or enlarged 

 either by John of Gaunt or some other member of the family of 

 Lancaster. 



The deeds and papers relating to the hospital do not specify 

 what number of inmates were formerly maintained therein, but by 

 an ancient deed dated in the year of Henry VIII. (1519) it is 

 evident that the endowment (if any) was insufficient for the 

 support of the inmates at that time, who were then chiefly main- 

 tained by the alms of others. The above-named deed recites that 

 Pope Innocent IV. in the year 1245, "by an induljans or bulle did 

 assoyle them of all syns forgotten and offences done against fader 

 and moder, and of all swerynges neglygently made." This indul- 

 jans grantyd of Petyn and Powle and of the said Pope was to hold 

 good for 51 years and 260 days, provided they repeated a certain 

 number of Paternosters and Ave Marias daily. 



The date of this indulgence proves the great antiquity of this 

 Hospital, as it must have been founded before Henry III.'s reign. 



A Chantry was founded in the Chapel attached to the Hospital 

 at a very early age by John Redcoddes, from whom the field near 

 now cultivated as allotments is still named " Redcotts." 



An old record dated in the 16th year of Henry VI. (1438) says 

 several tenements in Wimborne belonged to this Chantry. At 

 the dissolution of Monasteries the Chantry was held by Simon 

 Beneson, who was the sacrist of the Collegiate Church, and a 

 pension of 5 was allowed him. 



