Beamsley Hospital

Beamsley Hospital is a circular stone building with two concentric drums, where the interior core rises through the roof to light the central chapel. The slate-covered structure contains multiple two-light windows with chamfered mullions and retains its original fireplaces throughout.

Lady Margaret Russell, Countess of Cumberland, founded this institution in 1593 as a charitable home for thirteen poor widows from the local community. The creation reflected the era's charitable impulse by providing secure housing for vulnerable women.

The layout merges daily living and spiritual practice by positioning seven rooms around a central chapel, reflecting how residents balanced work and worship. The interior arrangement shows the connection between community care and religious life that defined the place.

The building sits in a remote rural location, accessible mainly on foot from the village, which requires preparation before a visit. Plan for country walking conditions and allow time to locate the structure, as it is not prominently marked from nearby roads.

The roof design channels light from three large windows directly into the central chapel, creating a distinctive illumination pattern above the altar that visitors often miss. This deliberate lighting arrangement reveals how architecture served spiritual purposes in the design.