Kepier Hospital, Medieval hospital in Belmont, England
Kepier Hospital is a medieval healthcare institution in Belmont with stone structures that span several centuries. The Great Gateway dates to the 14th century and combines rubble sandstone with dressed stone details, while farm buildings incorporated into the site contain portions of the original medical facility.
The institution was established in 1112 to care for pilgrims and the ill, making it one of the earliest hospitals in northern England. When medical needs shifted over time, the site was repurposed as a farm while the sturdy stone walls endured.
The site shows how a medieval healing institution transformed into a working farm while keeping its original structures intact. Visitors today can see traces of this dual history embedded in the stonework and layout of the buildings.
The site is a protected monument that can be viewed from outside, with stone structures and the gateway easily visible. Wear sturdy shoes as it remains an active farm property with uneven ground and livestock in the area.
The carefully dressed stones of the 14th-century gateway show craftsmanship found in other religious buildings across northern England at the same time. This architectural detail links the modest medical house to the wider building tradition of the region.
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