| George Abbot (1562-1633) was born in Guildford on 29 October 1562. He was the fourth of six children, born to Maurice and Alice Abbot who were both clothworkers. Their sons attended the Edward VI's Free School (known now as the Royal Grammar School, see 1775/-) in Guildford, and all went on to enjoy eminent careers. George became Archbishop of Canterbury, his brother Robert became Bishop of Salisbury, Morris, a woollen draper and merchant, became Lord Mayor of London and was knighted, and Anthony was Mayor of Guildford in 1598.
George Abbot went to Balliol College, Oxford, and graduated as a Batchelor of Arts in 1582. He was elected a fellow in 1583. Abbot remained at Oxford and was appointed to several college offices, including Notary in 1597 and, later that year, Master of University College.
In 1600 Abbot was appointed Dean of Winchester, his first ecclesiastical position in the Crown's gift. His church career progressed rapidly from 1609 when he was appointed Bishop of Coventry & Lichfield. Later the same year he was nominated as Bishop of London, and in April 1611 confirmed as Archbishop of Canterbury, a position he held until his death in 1633.
As Archbishop of Canterbury, George Abbot wished to endow a charitable foundation. He decided to assist the cloth industry in Guildford which was in recession in the early 17th century. Initially he proposed an endowment which would produce an income to provide interest free loans to clothworkers to improve their businesses. By 1618, Abbot expanded his idea to provide a double foundation of a hospital and a 'manufacture' in Guildford, having become aware of the need for an institution to provide for the destitute old and infirm, care of whom had been undertaken, before the Reformation, by monastic communities. (For records relating to Abbot's manufacture, 1676-1851, see 1541/-).
Abbot acquired a property on the High Street in Guildford, backing onto what is now North Street. It was a site occupied by the Half Moon Inn and bought on Abbot's behalf by Robert Purse in April 1618 (see -/4/2/5). An additional property was purchased to the east of the Inn in October 1618 (see -/4/2/7).
The buildings on the site were demolished and the first stone of the new hospital was laid on 6 April 1619 by Archbishop Abbot. The Hospital of the Blessed Trinity was open by October 1622, although building continued until 1631. The Hospital and land was conveyed from Abbot and the trustees to the master and brethren on 26 June 1624 for five shillings (see -/4/2/10).
George Abbot's brother, Richard, was appointed the first governor and master of the Hospital. After the Archbishop's death in 1633, the master was elected by the trustees. Initially the Hospital expenses were met by Abbot. From 1625 Abbot, and later the trustees of the hospital, bought lands in Surrey and West Sussex to endow the Hospital, providing an income to maintain the fabric and brethren. The estate was leased and the income also provided a weekly allowance to the inmates of 2s 6d, and £15 per annum for making their uniform gowns (there is an account for the purchase of 'black rugge gowns' in December 1626, see -/6/1).
The Hospital's statutes and constitution were laid out in Letters Patent issued by James I confirming the foundation (see -/1/1). The brethren (or inmates as they were often described) had to be over 60 years of age, unmarried, and born in Guildford or residents for over 20 years. The statutes were closely modelled on those of Whitgift's Hospital at Croydon, a similar institution which had been built 20 years earlier.
The original scheme of the archbishop included an additional endowment to assist the revival of manufactures in Guildford particularly the textile trade (both Abbot's parents were clothworkers). To assist this, the brethren had to wear gowns of Guildford Blue, a renowned fabric. Unfortunately the industry continued to decay and by decree in Chancery of 3 Jul 1656, the money was redistributed to poor tradesmen of the town. In 1785, following a further endowment to the Hospital by Thomas Jackson of Guildford, another decree was made allocating half the manufacturing endowment to poor tradesmen. The other half was added to Jackson's gift to support four more sisters at the Hospital (Victoria History of the County of Surrey, vol III, p548 (London, 1911)).
The rules laid out for the administration of the Hospital and its brethren were revised by the Charity Commissioners, and passed by an Act of Parliament in July 1861 (see -/2/1). The changes included the creation of a Board of Governors to manage the Hospital and appoint the master (see -/3/1-26).
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| The collection has been arranged to reflect the administration of the Hospital. The earliest document relating to the establishment of the Hospital is the Letters Patent confirming its foundation in June 1622 and outlining its statutes and administration (see -/1/1). Various changes to the government and rules of the Hospital are recorded in Charity Commission schemes and orders, and Acts of Parliament between 1861 and 1953 (see -/2/1-9).
The Governors' minute books dating from the first revision of the Hospital regulations in 1861 to 1978 are listed next (see -/3/1-11). This section of the list also includes notices and agenda, 1861 to 1954, papers relating to the appointment of governors, 1863 to 1959, and governors' correspondence, 1901 to 1959 (see -/3/13-26).
Estate title deeds, and records relating to the management of the Hospital estate comprise the two largest sections of the list (see -/4/1-11/- & -/7/1-10/-). The material in both sections has been arranged by location, starting with the estates in the Guildford area (including Merrow), and then alphabetically by parish.
The few surviving masters' papers include the master's journal from 1853 to 1949 (see -/5/3-7). The remaining master's papers are two letters and Charity Commission orders sanctioning increases in the master's stipend (see -/5/1-2, 8-9).
The section on finance includes the early ledgers of the Hospital that are mentioned above. In addition to financial details they include details about the estate, the brethren and the appointments of masters etc, 1622 to 1881 (see -/6/1-5). Subsequent dedicated ledgers and account books follow, 1862 to 1950 (see -/6/6-13).
Records relating to Hospital fabric and property dates from 1618 to 1979 (see -/7/1/1-35). The majority of the material is 20th century relating to maintenance and repair. Other papers include insurance policies, inventories and valuations, and plans of the Hospital.
Very few records survive relating to Hospital staff; they date from 1866 to 1971 and are incomplete (see -/8/1-8). The inmates, too, are poorly recorded. Records include applications (incomplete), 1925 to 1959 (various dates, see -/9/1-10); duties of inmates, 1951 (see -/9/11); and entertainments, 1906-1962 (incomplete, see -/9/12-14).
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