The
hospital for male lepers at Great Ilford was founded during
the reign of King Stephen. During the dissolution of the
monasteries the buildings and lands of the hospital went
into private hands. By the early 19th century it was owned
by Sir Crispe Gascoigne, one of the Lord Mayor's of London.
During the Regency period (early nineteenth century) the
former hospital was run as six almshouses with a chapel
attached. Each almshouse housed a husband and wife, but
if the husband died then the wife had to quit the almshouse
within 6 months. Each couple received 1 Pound, 14 shillings
and sixpence per year. The engraving above shows the interior
of the chapel, the one below shows the exterior and almshouses.
