In the parish of St. Botolph without Bishopsgate in the Ward of Bishopsgate Without, extending from Berwards Lane (? Artillery Lane) south to the parish of St. Leonard Shoreditch on the north and from the King's street west (? Bishopsgate Street) to the Bishop of London's field called Lollesworth east (S. 168).
Founded by W. Brune and Rosia his wife 1197 (S. 106, Dugdale, VI. 623), by name of "Domus Dei and Beatae Mariae extra Bishopsgate" (ib.).
In early records it is frequently referred to as the Hospital or the New Hospital without Bishopsgate.
Grant of soc of men in the city to the brethren of the new hospital without the gate of Bissopisgate, 26 H.III. 1242 (Cal. P.R. H. III. 1232-47, p. 283).
A priory of Augustinian Canons and hospital for poor brothers of the order of St. Augustine (Tanner, viii. 40) with lay brothers and sisters to tend the sick.
The prior of the New Hospital without Bishopsgate was witness to a deed, 17 H. III. (Anc. Deeds, A. 2073).
Grant by the bishop of London to the new hospital of St. Mary without Bishopsgate of a fountain called "Snekockeswelle" in field called "Lollesworthe" to be enclosed with a stone wall and the water led underground to the south corner of the garden of the Hospital, 1279 (Hist. MSS. Com. 9th Rep. p. 29).
There was a pulpit cross in the churchyard (S. 168) (now Spital Square) and a house where the Mayor and Aldermen went to hear the Spital sermon (Liber Albus, I. 28).
When the priory was dissolved and the Hospital surrendered, temp. H. VIII. 1540, the hospital had 180 beds (S. 168).
Mentioned as the parish of the Blessed Mary the Virgin commonly called St. Mary Spyttell within the liberty of the City of London, 1 Eliz. 1559 (Lend. I. p.m. I. p. 168).
The priory buildings occupied the site of the present Spital Square. Spital Yard, etc. (q.v.), but the precincts of the Priory and Hospital seem to have included the Old Artillery Ground and the Liberty of Norton Folgate, the former having been granted on lease to the use of the Gunners of the Tower by the last Prior, but it cannot have included the modern parish of Christ Church Spittlefields, which was taken out of Stepney in 1728 (See Spitalfields, Spital Bar).