Holgate'S Hospital: South Range

Holgate's Hospital: South Range

This is one of two ranges of almshouses, part of Holgate's Hospital at South Hiendley. Built in 1859–60 and enlarged in 1913, it has been altered since. The buildings are constructed of red brick with bands of blue brick and sandstone dressings, with a tiled roof.

The range follows a long rectangular plan centred on an entrance block with porter's lodge. Originally it contained 8 cottages, 4 on each side, but was enlarged to 12 cottages with 2 additional pairs added at each end. The composition is symmetrical in Gothic style, with single-storey ranges flanking a 2-storey centre block.

The entrance block is 2 storeys and 3 bays. It features a central archway flanked by chamfered pilasters finished with stone gablets, each containing a shield and a bishop's mitre. Between these is a deep arched stone band lettered "HOSPITAL.OF.ROBERT.HOLGATE.ABP.FD.1555". Above this, rising into a large central gable, is a 2-centred arched plate-traceried 2-light window with chamfered surround, hoodmould with figured stops, and brick extrados. The outer bays each have one window on each floor, all with cusped-plate traceried lights, deep chamfered sills and rectangular lintels, with the upper windows rising into dormer gablets. The composition is crowned by steeply-pitched gablets and gables with raised verges and flat stone copings with ridged kneelers; the central gable has a stepped apex. The roof features fishscale bands and a ridge chimney to the right of centre.

The low single-storey side ranges each comprise 6 cottages grouped in pairs. Each pair has a recessed porch flanked by bay windows in a striking unified composition. The porch features a trefoil-headed archway with moulded stone head and hoodmould that carries round the flanking bays, with brick extrados and a steeply-pitched gablet with stepped apex. The flanking bay windows are triangular with high crow-stepped parapets. There is a doorway in each side of the porch and a small 2-light window in its recessed rear wall. Each bay window has a vertical rectangular window in each face, with stone sill- and head-bands and altered glazing. The 2-bay linking ranges have similar windows with stone sills and heads, and saw-toothed eaves bands; the roof features fish-scale bands and some cockscomb ridging tiles, with tall corniced ridge chimneys. The pairs of cottages added at each end in 1913 match the original style but with slightly more generous proportions; that at the left end bears the date "1913" over the porch. These later additions lack the fishscale roof bands. The rear elevation of each pair of cottages has a recessed rear porch but is otherwise plainer in design.

The first floor of the entrance block contains the Board Room, which features a fireplace in an elaborate stone surround lettered "HOSP.ROBT.HOLGATE" and "FOUNDED 1555.REBT.1860". Each cottage contains three small rooms: sitting room, scullery (now kitchen) and bedroom (partitioned to make bathroom), though layouts differ slightly between cottages.

Robert Holgate of Hemsworth was a moderate Protestant Reformer during the English Reformation who became Archbishop of York in 1545. He married and was deprived of his See by Mary. In his will he endowed the almshouse at his birthplace. These buildings occupy the third site of the hospital. They were designed in 1857–59 as part of a quadrangle, with a pair of ranges intended at each end in addition to this south range, the north range, and the Master's House, though these additional ranges were never built. The architect's drawing of the intended scheme is held in the Board Room.

Note: This item crosses the parish boundary, with approximately one-third lying in Hemsworth civil parish to the east.