Publisher's Synopsis
Almshouses trace their history back to monastic times, when the terms 'bedehouse', 'Maison Dieu', 'almshouse', 'hospital' and others described the monastic provision of accommodation for those in need. By the middle of the 1530s, there were about 800 medieval hospitals spread across the country, but, following the dissolution of the monasteries, only a handful remained, the majority of which were reformed on secular lines and rebuilt in the new collegiate style, including a chapel for regular worship by the residents. Many of these ancient chapels still survive as architectural gems, and still occupy a very special place in the life and soul of the almshouse communities they continue to serve, as do other chapels built from the 17th to the 20th centuries. In this new publication, based on five years' research, Raymond Bayley lists over 200 almshouse chapels, with more than 100 colour illustrations, along with extensive reference information, making this the most comprehensive treatment of the subject available.
