URPoint Details
The St Giles ruins are the remains of a leper hospital founded by King Henry II in the second half of the 12th century. Constructed of flint rubble it was built in the plan of a cross. Originally it was a dependence of the small Priory at Bicknacre, an establishment of Austin Canons whose principle monastery was St Botolph's Priory, Colchester. This order was closely allied to the Augustinian or 'Black' Canons, so called because of their black garments. During the reign of King Henry IV its ownership passed to the crown and in 1481 it was conveyed to Beeleigh Abbey, with some 90 acres of land, by the earl of Esse
The 'White’ Canons, closely linked with the Cistercian Monks, administered the hospital for its last fifty years.
Following the Dissolution of the monasteries by King Henry VIII, the hospital, like many other monastic buildings, was plundered for building materials. It was repaired during the 17th century and for some time used as a barn. It had its roof and was still enclosed on 1900.
The 1921 Royal Commission on Historical Monuments refers to the roof being in a 'poor state' and today it stands open to the sky.
- Type:
- Landmark