Bury St Edmunds historian Martyn Taylor tells the story of St Saviour’s Hospital

The company actually paid for an archaeological dig between 1989-94 which revealed much of the footprint of the hospital. On completion of the dig, a time capsule was buried close to the site.

St Saviour’s was founded in 1184 by the charismatic Abbot Samson of St Edmunds Abbey, mainly for the care of up to 42 retired monks, priests and elderly men and women. In those far-off days this was similar to a hospice, caring more for the soul, as medical help very basic.

It would seem that those involved with the hospital had a pretty good life as it received a number of endowments and significant donations throughout its life, so much so that in 1327, with the grim demise of Edward II and national unrest within the country, especially Bury when the Abbey was sacked, St Saviour’s was also pillaged.

In 1447, the uncle and former regent to King Henry VI, the good Duke Humphrey Plantagenet, was found mysteriously dead in his chamber at St Saviour’s, supposedly poisoned. Henry’s wife, Margaret of Anjou, apocryphally may have had something to do with it but most likely he died from a stroke. A plaque above the frontage put up in 1907 to help reinforce the wonderful pageant of that year was paid for by George Gery Milner Gibson Cullum of Hardwick. Having found the 11 oval plaques put on buildings throughout the town, it took a while before I found the obligatory 12 . . . the plaque on St Saviour’s was, in fact, rectangular.

At one time the St Saviour’s site was used by Whitmores Timber Yard, renowned for its quality well-seasoned hardwood, so when oak for the new doors for the Old Bailey Law Courts was required, Whitmores won the contract to supply it.

-- Martyn Taylor is a local historian, author and Bury Tour Guide. His latest book, Bury St Edmunds Through Time Revisited, is widely available.