William Brown's Hospital at Stamford: A Note on its Early History and the Date of the Buildings

Extract

The documentary evidence relating to the foundation and early history of the almshouse founded by William Brown at Stamford is somewhat extensive and contradictory. The project was in hand towards the end of Edward IV's reign: an undated petition for letters patent for licence to establish the almshouse is extant, wherein reference is made to its chapel as being ‘lately built’. There is no record of this petition having been presented. However, on 27 January 1485 William Brown was authorized by letters patent to found and endow the almshouse. Here again the chapel and other houses and buildings are referred to as ‘newly built’. William Brown and his wife Margaret both died in 1489. The management of the hospital then passed to Thomas Stokke, brother of Margaret Brown. He obtained fresh letters patent from Henry VII on 28th November 1493. The text of these letters patent contradicts the licence of 1485 as it states: ‘Whereas William Browne of Staunford, county Lincoln, one of the Staple of Calais, had proposed to build a chapel and houses in the town of Staunford for divers chaplains and poor of both sexes for an almshouse, but was prevented by death, licence for Thomas Stokke, clerk, the brother of Dame Margaret Browne, relict of the said William Browne and executrix of the will of the said William, to found an almshouse at Staunford aforesaid, (etc.)’. The chapel was consecrated on 22nd December 1494 and Thomas Stokke issued the Statutes for the management of the hospital on 9th October 1495.