Building
Infirmary
An infirmary cared for the sick and elderly. Large monasteries kept their own infirmary for monks, and the 12th century saw the founding of hospitals such as St Bartholomew's in London in 1123, run by Augustinian canons and sisters. Care meant rest, food and prayer, supplemented by herbal remedies. Larger hospitals had a long hall with beds along both sides, arranged so that patients could see the chapel altar.
Caveats (confidence: high)
Medical care was basic; later monastic infirmaries, such as Fountains (1220s-40s), are better preserved than 12th-century ones.
Sources: londonmuseum.org.uk · historicengland.org.uk
Built from
- Infirmary