xxVii 



now in Kingston Lacy muniment room, it appears this hospital was set 

 apart for the relief and support of poor persons afflicted with the leprosy, 

 and was subject, as all sucli hospitals and lazar houses are, to the 

 hospital of Burton Lazar, in Leicestershire, as that was to the grand 

 hospital at Jerusalem. In the reign of King John, one Hugo de Luigweria 

 gave to the poor of this hospital an acre of land lying on the west of a 

 field called Redcotts, near the hospital, which still belongs to it. In the 

 year 1282 Peter, Bishop of Exeter, gave an indulgence to all who should 

 give any goods towards the support of this hospital. Thus the common 

 tradition of its foundation by John of Gaunt seems to be groundless, 

 since he was not created Duke of Lancaster until 1362. It would seem 

 impossible to discover any settled endowment for this hospital before the 

 10th of Henry VIII., when, by deed, a proctor was appointed to gather 

 alms for its benefit. Reference was made by the same deed to the bull of 

 Pope Innocent IV. given in 1245, proving the antiquity of the foundation, 

 for it appears from it a building was erected before 1245. Very early a 

 charity was founded in the chapel by one John Redcodds, to which 

 charity several tenements in Wimbome then belonged, and still form part 

 of the endowment. In 35th Henry VI. Margaret, wife of RoV>ert 

 Kemston, gave unto Sir Roger Hill, then priest of the charity, certain 

 vestments, which subsequently reverted to the charity of Thomas de 

 Brembere, dean of the collegiate church, Wimbome. From the books of 

 accounts it seems that the government was, from 1567 to 1683, under the 

 direction of two of the most substantial inhabitants of the parish, chosen 

 annually, styling themselves guardians or wardens of St. Margaret's 

 Hospital, assisted by the constable of the town and the steward of the 

 manor. From that time it has been managed by the steward and lord of 

 the manor, the latter of whom exercised the right of appointing the 

 chaplain and the inmates. In the chapel, before the Reformation, Divine 

 service was performed by priests or chaplains, and only when it fell into 

 decay were the services suspended. 



The party thence drove to Canford Manor, where, by the kindness of 

 Lord \Vimborne, the house and grounds were opened for the inspection 

 of the Society. Here the pictures, the elaborately carved staircase of 

 walnut wood and of Italian workmanship, and the fine tapestry of the 

 hall, formed the chief features of interest, and are only excelled, perhaps, 

 by the collection of remains brought from Nineveh by Sir Henry Layard. 

 These arrived at Canford alxmt the summer of 1851. They came from 

 two palaces. The lions and the best preserved figures were discovered in 

 the palace of the King Sardanapalus, buried in the mounds of Nimroud 

 on the Tigris. The slabs, which have suli'ered from lire and are much 



