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Medieval Leprosy Hospital Yields New Secrets
26 Oct
Summary
- Medieval leprosy hospital in Lincoln, England, has new remains discovered.
- Hospital of the Holy Innocents operated for nearly 500 years.
- Evidence suggests patients lived in individual structures with yards.
Archaeologists in Lincoln, England, have made significant discoveries at the medieval Hospital of the Holy Innocents, one of Britain's oldest leprosy hospitals. The hospital, established between the late 11th and early 12th centuries, served as a home for up to 20 leprosy patients for nearly five centuries.
Recent excavations by "Time Team" uncovered traces of medieval walls and unique square features, believed to be individual living quarters or enclosed yards for patients. These findings expand upon previous discoveries made last year.
Professor Carenza Lewis of the University of Lincoln suggested that entry into the hospital likely required financial resources, comparing it to modern private care homes. The research is part of a three-year project by Anglia Ruskin University to understand life at the medieval hospital.
The discoveries in Lincoln follow a similar find in York, England, where a sinkhole exposed remains of another large medieval hospital, St. Leonard's.
