Early history The hospital at Burton Lazars was founded between 1135 and 1138 and is thought to have been financed by subscriptions from throughout England. It was flourishing by 1146 when it started to found cells in other parts of the country to cope with the spread of leprosy brought back by soldiers and pilgrims returning from the crusades. Other early donors include
Simon, Earl of Huntingdon and his wife Alice daughter of
Gilbert de Gant, Earl of Lincoln who gave the churches of
Great Hale,
Heckington, and
Threckingham; William Burdett of
Loseby who gave the churches of
Haselbech in Northamptonshire and
Loseby and
Galby in Leicestershire;
William de Ferrers, 3rd Earl of Derby who gave
Spondon in Derbyshire; and Henry de Lacy who gave the church of
Castleford in Yorkshire. In 1180
King Henry II confirmed the above grants by charter The Master was responsible for managing its English estates and was involved in frequent territorial disputes. Methods of debt recovery employed by the Leicestershire gentry included kidnapping and theft and the Masters of Burton Lazars were not afraid to use such
vigilante practices. The Order also saw internal conflict with two notable disputes between its brethren. The first concerned Nicholas de Dover who claimed to be Master of the Order in 1364, despite Geoffrey de Chaddesden already being recognised as master and not having resigned. Wealthy donations to the order were rewarded with membership and prayers for the souls of the donors and their families to help in their purification. A large number of
seals have been found in various parts of England that belonged to the Confraternity of Burton St Lazarus.
Demise The hospital survived the initial
Dissolution of the Monasteries but was surrendered to the crown on 4 May 1544 when it was valued at £265 10s 2.5d. This figure places Burton St Lazars as being wealthier than other hospitals but not as prosperous as monasteries.
Remains The hospital has become buried but its presence can still be seen today in the shape of earthworks and ponds. In 1913 the
Marquis of Granby, later the 9th Duke of Rutland, began excavations and uncovered baking ovens and 100 clay tiles (now kept by the
British Museum), some bearing the Coats of Arms of families such as the Ferrers, Astleys and Bassets who were patrons or members of the Hospital. The excavation was interrupted by the onset of war and so was not completed. Aerial photography and fieldwork have subsequently helped make more sense of the layout of the site but, as of yet, no further excavations have been made which would reveal more of its history. ==References==