Image ID: 14543

Holy Trinity Hospital

Hospital Road
Retford
England

The Hospital was founded in 1666, originally for 10 men, but increased to 16 in 1795. The subdean of Lincoln was the master. JS Piercy describes Holy Trinity Hospital thus: 'Holy Trinity Hospital was designed by an architect of national repute: Edward Blore. The central portion, including the chapel, was built in 1872: the remainder dates from 1832-3. The hospital is situated on the west side of the high road from Retford to Worksop, and was once the residence of the liberal donor, John Darrell; it is a low and ancient looking edifice in the centre, with two advanced wings in the same style; at the end of these are two advanced fronts, erected in the year 1794, in a kind of mezzo-Gothic style of architecture. The centre part is generally denominated 'The Hall,' in which prayers are read daily; the brethren are each provided with a folio edition of the book of Common Prayer, and alternately officiates as chaplain quarterly, for which he is allowed fifteen shillings. The building is two stories high; over the entrance is placed the arms of Dr. Darrel, with the crest and supporters; over the whole a small bell is suspended, which is regularly used to warn the brethren of the arrival of the appointed hour of prayer. The staircase consists of two short flights of steps, which, with the banisters, are formed of old English oak; on entering the chamber, the whole assumes a very antiquated appearance, 'the work of years which have long since passed away'; here no painted nor papered walls salute the eyes of the visitor, but the whole is inlaid with empanelled oak, while over the fireplace is a simple but beautiful specimen of old English carving: in one corner hangs a number of old picture frames, which once circumscribed the portraits of the apostles and evangelists, an appropriate decoration to the room; whilst another corner gives place to 'the common chests' which contains the seal and the various documents appertaining to the estate.' (from JS Piercy's History of Retford, 1828, and extracted from the nottshistory.org.uk website)

Date: 1914

Organisation Reference: NCCN000949

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