More information : (TQ 29408010 - sited to general area of St James's Palace) The site of the present St James's Palace (see NAR no TQ 28 SE 4) was formerly occupied by a hospital for leprous women, an Augustinian foundation. The hospital's dedication to St James the Less was retained for the name of the Palace and its associated park( see NAR no TQ 27 NE 65). A pre-Conquest origin has been claimed for the hospital by some authorities, but the earliest surviving records belong to the early 12th century, leaving the matter unresolved. The hospital and its lands were granted to Eton College in 1448. In 1531 the college exchanged the hospital and much of its possessions with Henry VIII for lands in Kent, presumably at Henry's instigation. The hospital was demolished and the site used for St James's Palace. (1-5)
RCHME reports the discovery under Colour Court of St James's Palace in 1925 of part of the foundation of the north wall of a building plus medieval tiles. The presence of burials on either side of the wall were taken to indicate that this was the site of the hospital chapel. (2)
In 1838, during repairs to the Chapel Royal at the palace, Norman stone mullions and other masonry "came to light" (3)
Excavations in 1990 in and around Marlborough House (NAR no TQ 28 SE 57) recovered architectural fragments spanning the 13th-19th centuries, pottery ranging in date from the mid-12th century onwards plus fragments of 14th century decorated floor tiles. Much of this material is regarded as possibly deriving from the hospital.(6)
Baker reproduces a mid-16th century sketch of London which apparently shows the hospital of St James in the background, although the sketch appears to post-date the building of St James's Palace.(5) |