The Mediæval Hospitals of England

"The Mediæval Hospitals of England" by Rotha Mary Clay is a study of England's hospitals during the Middle Ages, revealing their crucial role as charitable institutions. The account underscores how these hospitals were more than places of rudimentary medical assistance; they were fundamental in giving complete care to the sick, the poor, and travelers. Highlighting their ecclesiastical nature, the book emphasizes spiritual support alongside physical sustenance, clarifying the different forms of hospitals, including those for lepers and wayfarers. The narrative uses the examples of St. Bartholomew’s Hospital and St. Thomas’ in Canterbury to show the growth of these vital structures and to prove how they adapted to the social changes of the time.