Lord Burgley’s Hospital

The current Lord Burghley’s Hospital is on the site of the Medieval Hospital of St John the Baptist and St Thomas the Martyr. The medieval hospital had been founded around 1174 and confirmed in 1190 under Peterborough Abbey for the use of pilgrims and the poor. It had apparently fallen into disuse by the 16th century when only the chapel continued in use. It was bought in 1549 by William Cecil and was maintained as an almshouse by 1595.

The hospital was administered by Peterborough Abbey, but by the end of the 15th century its almshouse function was virtually redundant. After the Dissolution the hospital was bought by William Cecil and part of it was maintained as an Almshouse until 1597, when the then Lord Burghley formally endowed it. The new almshouse catered for 13 old men with one serving as warden.

Today Lord Burghley’s Hospital is home to both men and women who have lived and worked in Stamford for a number of years. There is no defined time for those who have lived and worked in Stamford, it is at the Trustees discretion to determine whether an applicant is eligible.