Community care: civic charitable institutions in the Kentish Cinque Ports, c.1300-c.1500

In the late 14th and early 15th centuries there was pressure by Lollard and other reformers to replace moribund hospitals, which were viewed as ecclesiastical-run institutions, with new foundations under lay control to provide community care for the vulnerable. In some cases these new almshouses actively involved the local civic authorities. The evidence for such civic-controlled hospitals in Kent is especially good for the Cinque Ports, and these institutions pre-date the calls for reform in the reigns of Richard II and his successors. Moreover, the hospital records not only highlight matters relating to the foundation of such establishments but also their developing character during the 15th century and beyond.