Hospital of St John the Evangelist. Founded by William Cressy in the reign of King John and well documented down to 1703 (it escaped suppression). At first for lepers, and in 1446 re-established (see below) for poor strangers and pregnant women. The founding was at Blyth but in the township of Hodsock and therefore on the S side of Blyth. From the early C17 the site was certainly at Spital Lodge/Farm/House and there seems no reason to think that it was ever anywhere else. The supposition (in (2)) that the site was moved to Blyth on the re-establishment of 1446 has little to support it; (1) quotes what seems to be the only reference as "erection and new construction of a certain house or hospital in Blyth"; there is no mention of resiting (nor even of the name of the hosptal, could be St Edmund's, if indeed that was a separate establishment). The Master's House and the adjoining houses for poor inmates at this site were pulled down in 1810 . (1) (2) (3) (4)
Mrs Johnson, wife of the present occupier of Blyth Spital Farm, stated that her husband had deduced from the deeds that the hospital stood in the field immediately N of the farm, on the site now occupied by a new house (above grid ref). (5)
See L 4784 for C13 doorway, M 4784 for school, L 9443 for burials, M 5543 for St Edmund's Hospital.

<1> VCH, 1910, Notts, pp 164-6 (Published document). SNT1384.

<2> Knowles D and Hadcock N, 1957, English Historical Review, p 79 (Published document). SNT868.

<3> Clay RM, 1966, Med Hosps of Eng, p 313 (Published document). SNT564.

<4> Thoroton Society, 1901, TTS, p 47 (Published document). SNT328.

<5> Seaman BH, 1961, Pers Comm (Personal comment). SNT1244.