Description

SE32SE WARMFIELD-CUM-HEATH

1/102 KIRKTHORPE LANE
(west side)

14.2.52 Frieston's Hospital

GV II*

The Grade shall be amended to read I

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SE32SE WARMFIELD-CUM-HEATH KIRKTHORPE LANE

(west side)
1/102 Frieston's Hospital
14.2.52

GV II*

Former almshouses, now converted to a dwelling. c1595. Large well-coursed
gritstone, stone slate roof. An unusual building square-on-plan with large
rectangular central hall lit by gabled dormers rising out of roof on 3 sides with
low single-storey aisles on 3 sides under sweeping lean-to roofs. South entrance
front: has slightly off-centre doorway to right with composite jambs and chamfered
surround with 2 bays to either side of 2-light double-chamfered mullioned windows.
Chamfered eaves band. Set back at 2nd-storey level small coped gable surmounted
by finial has 4-light double-chamfered mullioned-and-transomed window. Rear: has
large external stack with shouldered offsets with, to right, 2-light window and,
to left, doorway with composite jambs and broad chamfered surround with, above,
modern plaque inscribed "JOHN FRIESTON OF ALTOFTS SQUARE FOUNDED AND ENDOWED THIS
HOSPITAL ANNO DOM 1595. HE THAT HATH MERCY ON THE POOR HAPPY IS HE. PROVERBS 14.21"
Above is a small chamfered light. To left end, 2-light window to gable. Right-hand
return has two 2-light windows. Left-hand return has three 2-light windows. Both
have gabled dormer rising out of roof with 4-light mullioned-and-transomed window
and coped gables with bases for finials to kneelers and apex stones (gone).

Interior: large impressive open hall rectangular in plan has 3 doorways to east and
west with 2 doorways to south all with composite jambs and monolithic lintels with
broad chamfered surrounds. To north a large fireplace with depressed Tudor arch,
keystone, voussoirs, skewbacks with deep chamfered surround; inner jambs have
recess with chamfered stone seat, doorway to right has window above with deeply-
splayed surround. Each internal doorway retains original oak plank door with iron
strap hinges. These lead into 7 rooms with oak stop-chamfered posts and sill and
head beams most retaining plank and muntin panelling. Windows have wooden lintels
formed by wall plate. South rooms are open to roof with close studding above tie
beam and straight-braced post to high wall plate at ridge level.

The hospital is of interesting design and ingeniously contrived so as to require
only one fireplace. J. W. Walker (pp424-425) records that John Frieston built
the hospital for the accommodation of 7 poor men, fuel for the hospital to be
provided by the tenants of Frieston's lands in the surrounding area.

N. Pevsner, Yorkshire West Riding, 1974, p294.
RCHM (England) report.
J. W. Walker, Wakefield, Vol. II, 3rd ed., 1967.

Listing NGR: SE3607220896

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q17528221

External links are from the relevant listing authority and, where applicable, Wikidata. Wikidata IDs may be related buildings as well as this specific building. If you want to add or update a link, you will need to do so by editing the Wikidata entry.

Recommended Books

• 
  Warwickshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Sussex: West (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Oxfordshire: North and West (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Hampshire: South (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Old House Eco Handbook: A Practical Guide to Retrofitting for Energy-Efficiency & Sustainability
• 
  Dorset (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)