St Mary Magdalen Leprosaria
Has been described as a Questionable Uncertain
There are earthwork remains
| Name | St Mary Magdalen Leprosaria |
| Alternative Names | |
| Historic Country | Hampshire and the Isle of Wight |
| Modern Authority | Hampshire (City of Winchester) |
| 1974 Authority | Hampshire |
| Civil Parish | Chilcomb |
The site of an early leprosaria outside Winchester is being excavated and investigated by a team from the University of Winchester lead by Dr Simon Roffey and Dr Phil Marter.
It appeared that this primary phase of hospital development was interrupted sometime in the first part of the 12th century. Evidence for this was represented by a large 'cellared' or sunken-featured structure underlying the later twelfth-century medieval infirmary. It is not yet clear whether or not this was a feature of the early Norman hospital or represented a change in site use. At present the evidence indicates that it functioned for only a relatively short period of time and had certainly gone out of use by the time a new, masonry, hospital infirmary was built in the 1150s. Current thinking is that it may be part of a fortification dating to period of the Anarchy (Civil War) of 1139-53. If this was the case it purpose might have been built to defend the eastern entry to the city. These features will form the subject of continued excavations in 2013. (Simon Roffey and Phil Marter 2012)