Conservation & Heritage Issue 52 Summer/Autumn 2026 - Flipbook - Page 15
Infirmary hall to the north
of St John’s Farmhouse, Ely
The present farm known as St John’s is thought to occupy the site of the Hospital of St
Mary Magdelene, first recorded in 1225 when it was gifted the church at Littleport. In
about 1251 this hospital was merged with a second, St John the Baptist, by Bishop Hugh
Northwold. This then became the Hospital of St John the Baptist and St Mary Magdelene.
The Infirmary is positioned to the north of St John’s
Farmhouse, with the Infirmary being three bays, and being
the hall to the Hospital of Mary Magdalene first recorded
in 1225. In 1251 it merged with the Hospital of St John the
Baptist to become the Hospital of St John the Baptist and
St Mary Magdalene. The building currently forms part of St
Johns Farm, Ely.
The building is on the National Heritage List for
England LEN 1126455 Grade I listed.
The owners of the building have been assisted with
support from Historic England for the current repair and
consolidation works. The Morton Partnership Ltd. have
been appointed with Ed Morton, a Conservation Accredited
Engineer (CARE) appointed to lead the project.
The Infirmary building is of masonry construction,
predominantly of clunch with limestone rubble, and reused thirteenth century dressed Barnack stone. Original
mid-thirteenth century masonry, as evidenced by survival
of blocked in three bay arcade to the north side, with
buttresses between and to the west end. It was subject to a
major scheme of alterations in the fifteenth/early sixteenth
This site was very complex and a rare survival of its type. due
to its history and having had only four owners since the mid
thirteenth century. Comprising four grade 1 listed buildings
in a scheduled area within c 600 metres of Ely cathedral
and its outstanding medieval precinct. It is located within a
conservation area.
Above, North elevation
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Conservation & Heritage Journal
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