SLESWICKE'S HOSPITAL.
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Sloswicke's Hospital
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Sloswicke's Hospital was founded in 1657, rebuilt in 1806 (at a cost of £525) and altered in 1819 by the addition of two more tenements. Gardeners in the mid-20th century encountered old foundations in the front garden so it is probable that the buildings of 1806 were set back further from the road. |
The following summary of the will of the donor, made the 5th of May, 1657, will explain all the circumstances appertaining thereto.
Richard Sleswkke, by will, (dated as above,) bequethed certain of his property to his wife, and one year after her decease, to descend to Edmond Midwinter. The remainder of his property he bequeathed to Edward Neville, Esq. Francis Stringer, Esq. John Rayner, Gent. of Great Drayton, William Booth, of Laneham, and Mr. Widwinter, in trust, "for the maintenance of six poore old men of good carriage and behaviour, every of them to receive three pounds six shillings and eight pence yearly at ffower times in the year." His then dwelling house was ordered to be converted into "a hospital and charitable house, to be titled and called by the name of Mese de Dieu" :those of his own blood and kindred falling into poverty to be preferred thereunto before any other. The accounts relating thereto to be audited annually in the week next before Easter, at which a dinner was to be provided out of the funds of the estate. The will was proved during the protectorate of Cromwell, on the 22nd of May, 1658.
For some years the trust was properly attended to, until about 1680, when from the deaths of nearly the whole of the trustees, it became the subject of a chancery suit; the decree relating thereto was made on the 16th of July, 1681, whereby it was ordered that Francis Stringer, of Sutton, the only surviving trustee, should give up his trust, which in future should be vested in the Corporation of East Retford; this took place on the 29th of July, in the same year.
In consequence of the building being old and much decayed, the Corporate body resolved to pull it down, and erect a new one in its stead; this was done in 1806: over the entrance which fronts the west end of the church, is the following inscription.—"Mease de Dieu, ex dono, Richardi Sloswicke Generosi, re-built 1806. Beaumont Mareshall, George Thornton, Gent Bailiffs." It is finished in the mezzo-gothic style of architecture, and forms a comfortable asylum to those whom age and infirmities have reduced to become its inmates. Of late years it has chiefly been filled up by aged burgesses, and others, who were pensioners on the Corporation funds; but however great may be the claims which burgesses possess, I apprehend the donor never contemplated that it should be appropriated to their benefit exclusive of other inhabitants resident in the borough, if such had been his intentions they would undoubtedly have been so expressed in the Will, but so far from that being the case, neither the Corporation nor burgesses are either mentioned or hinted at. At present the allowance to each poor man is two shillings weekly. The estate originally left for its support, lets for £83 a year and upwards.
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© A P NICHOLSON | PAGE LAST UPDATED: 29 MAY 2003