Visit Warwick's Medieval Gem
The Hospital is an historic group of timber-framed buildings on Warwick High Street dating mainly from the late 14th Century clustered round the Norman gateway into the town with its 12th Century Chantry Chapel above it. For nearly 200 years it was home to Warwick’s medieval Guilds.
In the reign of Queen Elizabeth I it became, under the patronage of Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester, a place of retirement for old warriors known as the Brethren. The Brethren and Master, who still live within the walls of the building, are a living legacy of almost 450 years of history. Every morning they meet in the Chapel and pray together the words their founder Robert Dudley set down. You can often see the Brethren in ceremonial uniform as they give tours through the buildings and gardens.
The Brethren’s Kitchen, where the Brethren from times gone by took their meals is an interesting view into the past and the community way of life. Today it is a thriving and popular cafe, where you can have breakfast, light lunches and cream teas.
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The beautiful Master’s Garden, open all year, features a pineapple pit and a 2,000 year old “nilometer”, used in ancient Egypt to measure the height of the Nile. Adjacent to it is the Knot Garden with its design and symbolism echoing Tudor times.
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These extraordinary medieval buildings, a living legacy to past times, are open to visitors and can be hired for civil ceremonies, receptions, dinners, parties and other events.