Monument record MDO45179 - St Mary Magdalene Hospital - The Belhouse, Magdalene Lane, Shaftesbury

The hospital of St. Mary Magdalene was founded in 1386 and was for a chaplain and twelve poor men. It was dissolved in 1539. The site has been built over by a block of modern houses and no visible trace of the hospital remains.

The hospital of St. Mary Magdalene was dependent upon Shafesbury Abbey (ST 82 SE 4). It was founded in 1386, and was for a chaplain and twelve poor men. The hospital, whose other name was Belhouse, was dissolved in 1539. <3>

Magdalen's, Maudlen's or Dolhouse, an ancient almshouse on the west side of St. Mary's Lane. The house is mentioned in court leets during the reign of Henry VI. In 1586 the ruined house of Maudlins was granted to Edward Read, and in 1625 presented to the trustees of the Grammar School. The trustees sold it and eventually it came to the Poor Law Commissioners and then to the Marquess of Westminster who owned it in 1868. (At ST 86012283: a large block depicted and described 'Maudlin').

In 1386 the Abbess and convent of Shaftesbury were granted the reversion of the Manor of Brydesyerd for the support of a chaplain in a place called 'le Belhouse' and the 12 poor inmates there. The Valor of 1535 mentions the support of 12 poor men in the Maudelyn or Belhouse of Shaftesbury. <1-2>

The site has been built over by a block of modern houses and no visible trace remains of the hospital. <4>

<1> Hutchins, J, 1868, The History and Antiquities of the County of Dorset. Volume 3. 3rd edition, 43 (Monograph). SDO11486.

<2> Page, W (Ed), 1908, The Victoria History of the County of Dorset 2, 75 (Monograph). SWX1805.

<3> Knowles, David and Hadcock, R Neville, 1953, Medieval religious houses: England and Wales, 305 (Monograph). SDO19110.

<4> Edwards, D W, Field Investigator's Comments DE, F1 DE 01-FEB-56 (Unpublished document). SDO18341.

<5> National Record of the Historic Environment, 206432 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Jun 27 2023 2:51PM