Eastbridge Hospital Canterbury | Kent

Hospital of St. Thomas the Martyr in Eastbridge

The Eastbridge is in the centre of the City of Canterbury and is composed of three adjoining sites and buildings:

• Eastbridge Hospital
• Greyfriars Chapel
• Franciscan Gardens

The Eastbridge, or the Eastbridge Hospital of St. Thomas the Martyr to give it it’s full name, is not a hospital as we use the word today.

It was and is still a hospital in the original sense of the word, a place of hospitality.

Today Eastbridge remains, in part, an almshouse and most of its historic buildings are open to the public. The two chapels within the Hospital are in regular use and a number of exhibitions covering a variety of topics are held, usually in the Undercroft, throughout the year.

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History of Eastbridge Hospital

St Thomas Becket was murdered in Canterbury Cathedral on 29th December 1170. Soon after his tomb and the place of his death became a focus for pilgrimage. The city needed to provide accommodation for the large number of visitors so in 1190, Edward FitzOdbold, a local merchant founded a hospital on the bridge in the High Street.

Originally created to provide for pilgrims visiting the tomb of St Thomas Becket, for over 800 years the Eastbridge has given shelter and help to pilgrims, soldiers, local societies and schoolchildren. For the last 400 years it has provided and still provides, a permanent home to a number of elderly people.

Since its foundation in the 12th century the Archbishop of Canterbury has been the patron.

Nearby Places to Visit
Franciscan Gardens
Salisbury Cathedral
Elham Treehouse
Leeds Castle