Monument record MWX132 - Priory of St John the Baptist, Bridport

Hutchins lists two foundations (the Priory and the Hospital) dedicated to St John Baptist in Bridport. However, this is in error and both are in fact the same place, located by the East Bridge at the east end of East Street.

Besides the Hospital of Saint John the Baptist at Bridport (SY 4692), a priory value #6 is listed by Speed and Dugdale. (1)

There is only one foundation dedicated to St John Baptist in Bridport, which is the Hospital of St John Baptist beside East Bridge (2). Hutchins mistakenly attributes two foundations to St John Baptist in the town, The Hospital of St John and the Priory of St John, one of which he places correctly at the east end of town close to the East Bridge and the other he places near the bridge at the west end of town. (3) This mistake appears to be the result of a misreading of Leland's description of the town, which is as follows 'Ther was in sight of ever I cam over the river into Bridport a lazar house, and not far of a chapelle of St Magdalene, in the which is a cantuarie founded; and over the bridge a little by W. in the town, is a chapelle of St John…' (4). Tanner follows Hutchins in repeating this mistake (5). In the third edition of Hutchins the mistake is partially rectified (3).

<1> Knowles, D, 1982, Medieval Religious Houses in England and Wales, 461 (Monograph). SWX1201.

<1.1> National Record of the Historic Environment, 450129 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

<2> Page, W (Ed), 1908, The Victoria History of the County of Dorset 2, 100-101 (Monograph). SWX1805.

<3> Hutchins, J, 1863, The History and Antiquities of the County of Dorset. Volume 2. 3rd edition, 18-19 (Monograph). SDO9443.

<4> Hutchins, J, 1863, The History and Antiquities of the County of Dorset. Volume 2. 3rd edition, 2 (Monograph). SDO9443.

<5> Tanner, 1744, Tanners Notitia Monastica, 109 (Monograph). SWX1326.

Record last edited

Dec 19 2022 2:21PM