Cromwell Museum (Hospital of St John the Baptist) Huntingdon

History of the Hospital

Listed Building

Circa 1170-90, but very restored 1854-6 by Dion Boucicault. Originally the west end of the infirmary hall of the Hospital of St John, 2 bays of nave and aisles. Round piers and arches with some decoration. Street wall has portal and 5 arches above. Bellcote. Was the Grammar School and sometime attended by Cromwell and Pepys.

The Hospital of St John the Baptist was founded in the second half of the 12th century by David, Earl of Huntingdon and brother of William the Lion, King of Scotland. The inmates probably lived to a modified version of the rule of St Augustine.

In 1337 they were given the revenue from the chapel on the bridge at Huntingdon but the hospital still struggled financially.During the 14th century the management of the hosp[ital was taken over by the town.

The two western bays of the infirmary hall are all that survives.They were extensively altered after the Dissolution and the aisle openings blocked. The main doorway dates to c.1160.

The building was rebuilt in 1877 by Dion Boucicault in memory of his son who was killed in the Abbot’s Ripton train disaster. The entire building was taken down, the stones numbered, and the building re-erected two feet higher to corresponded with the modern street level. ‘Norman’ style features were introduced.

Grammar School interior, prior to 1878 restoration (Norris)