Social Security in Late Medieval England: Corrodies in the Hospitals and Almshouses of Durham Priory

Brown, A. T.

Abstract

Historians have debated the extent of poor relief and social security provision in late medieval England, yet our knowledge about the inmates of hospitals and almshouses remains limited. Corrodies – grants of food, clothes and shelter – have been seen as a way of alleviating poverty in old age. Utilising the evidence of 260 corrodies, this article explores the gender, marital status and length of time recipients held their positions in two hospitals and two almshouses in Durham. Far from catering just to ageing male retainers as is often thought, corrodies provided security for men and women of all ages.

Citation

Brown, A. T. (2024). Social Security in Late Medieval England: Corrodies in the Hospitals and Almshouses of Durham Priory. Historical Research, 97(276), 199-217. https://doi.org/10.1093/hisres/htad033

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Oct 9, 2023
• Online Publication Date: Dec 22, 2023
• Publication Date: 2024-05
• Deposit Date: Oct 9, 2023
• Publicly Available Date: Jan 2, 2024
• Journal: Historical Research
• Print ISSN: 0950-3471
• Electronic ISSN: 1468-2281
• Publisher: Oxford University Press
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 97
• Issue: 276
• Pages: 199-217
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/hisres/htad033
• Public URL: https://durham-repository.worktribe.com/output/1788309