About the
seke mens houses or
the syke mens houses I am wondering if they could have been lepers.
A leper-house, called St. Stephen's hospital, which was formerly inhabited by lepers, lazars, and lame folks; of these houses there were five, at five of the city gates; each was governed by a master, custos or guardian, who before the Dissolution, was always a religious, and officiated daily in the chapel belonging to his house; there was one always at each house, called the foregoer, who used to beg daily for them; few people died heretofore without leaving a legacy "to each leper-house at the five gates, "viz. St. Stephen's or Nedham, St. Giles or Newport, St. Bennet's or Westwick, St. Austin's, St. Mary Magdalen Fybridge, or Five-bridge-gate: and to each of the foregoers there; and anciently, besides these leper-houses, there were hermits dwelling in their cells in all the gates; for in many wills there are legacies to the hermits residing in all the gates at Norwich.https://www.british-history.ac.uk/topographical-hist-norfolk/vol4/pp145-184The above quote gives the answer to the anchorites and anchoresses as well
Certainly both Robert Aylmer (d.1493) and Thomas Aylmer (d.1500) leave bequests to the lepers residing in the city:
From Robert Aylmer's will of 1493:http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=799398.0Item I will that ev(er)y lepere both man and woman beying And dwelling by and without the v yate of Norwich whan myne executours thydre come to visite them have ij d
And
From Thomas Aylmer's will of 1500:http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=800847.0It(e)m to ev(er)y Sykeman and woman at iche of the v yates [5 gates] in Norwich ijd
The above quote from
An Essay Towards A Topographical History of the County of Norfolk, however, does not mention the houses being built on private property. On the other hand, the sources seem to speak very little of the Aylmers at all. That seems to be because they died out in the male line in Norwich.
Also, the property with the sick men's houses seems to have originated with Thomas or was left to him by someone else, his father only left him land in Higham as far as I can see.
Item I will that Thomas my sonne have all my Landes and tenementes in Higham beside Norwich to hold to hym his heires and his assignes for ev(er)more whan he co(m)eth to laufull age under condition that ^he^ be curteis humble and diligent to my wif his modre
On the other hand, Robert Aylmer (d.1493) seems to have owned other land in Norwich that he does not mention specifically in his will:
Item I will that all myn other landes and tenementes in Norwich and in Northfolke be sold by myn executo(r)s And the money therof co(m)myng disposed in paying of my dettes and in p(er)formance of this my testament and last will and in other dedys of mercy for my soule and the soules afore said
Just as with Thomas, it might be that Robert's executors were a
smidge more practical and kept said properties in the family, and that the two closes with the sick men's houses were among them ...
Looking up the above quotes I also found this:
It(e)m I Will that my close lying at the gates of west Wyk adioynyng nexte the grounde of Nicholas Appilyard esquier and my Land with ought seint Gyles yates
I did not look into Nicholas Appleyard at the time, assuming that he had been an anonymous farmer, but that was not so
Will of Nicholas Appleyard 1513http://www.wellowgate.co.uk/Appleyard/nicholas.htmlHis executors were Thomas Lord Howard, Sir John Shelton Knight, Master Edmonde Howard and Thos Appleyarde of London, draper. Posting because they are last names and occupations we keep coming across.
More about the Appleyard family of Norwich in general here:
History of Parliament Page of William Appleyard (d.1419) of Norwich, Hethel and Bracon Ash, Norfolkhttps://www.historyofparliamentonline.org/volume/1386-1421/member/appleyard-william-1419William Appleyard (d.1419) of Norwich inherited, from his parents, manors at
Intwood, Bracon Ash and Hethel.
From the will of Alexander Aylmer of 1549:http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=800382.0Itm I wull that Anne my wyff shall have all my landes and Ten(emen)ts lying in Tyvetshale Saint Margaret in the cowntie of Norff - called Intwoode Batemans
Francoso remarked upon it at the time:
Not sure if this is relevant but "INTWOOD (All Saints), a parish, in the union of Henstead, hundred of Humbleyard, E. division of Norfolk, 3½ miles (S. W.) from Norwich.
Well, if nothing else, we are becoming quite the experts on medieval Norwich here!
