THE KNIGHTS OF LAZARUS
IN LEICESTERSHIRE
The Order of St. Lazarus, a medieval crusading order, had a significant presence in England, particularly around Leicestershire. Their main English house was located at Burton Lazars, near Melton Mowbray, which was a leper hospital founded in the 12th century
TILTON-ON-THE-HILL
The hospital at Tilton was given to that at Burton Lazars by William Burdet before 1184.
A Leper hospital was founded at Tilton before 1189 and was annexed to Burton Lazars in the same county. Site not ascertained. However two possible locations are muted in the small village, the first is a recorded medival moated site, next to a dammed Medieval fish pond, the second is possibly where the Manor farm house now is situated - with evidence of a fish pond once on the lands, visable on lidar, and also an outbuilding still standing, known locally as "the chapel" which could have once been a fragment of the small monastic hospital.
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BURTON LAZARS -
Burton Lazars: Home of the Leper Knights
Nestled just two kilometres south of Melton Mowbray in Leicestershire, the peaceful village of Burton Lazars holds the remnants of a once powerful and sacred site — the principal English hospital of the Order of St. Lazarus of Jerusalem.
Who Were the Order of St. Lazarus?
Known as the "Leper Knights," the Order of St. Lazarus was a unique monastic and military order, founded during the Crusades with a dual mission: caring for those suffering from leprosy and defending the Christian faith. Unlike other knightly orders, the Lazarites were renowned for offering refuge and medical care to lepers — including among their own ranks.
The Foundation of Burton Lazars
Founded between 1138 and 1162 by Robert de Mowbray, Burton Lazars became the most important leper hospital in medieval England. The site served not only as a refuge for the sick but also as the administrative centre for the Order’s English holdings, overseeing other houses across the country. This made Burton Lazars a key hub for both medical care and the Order’s strategic operations during and after the Crusades.
The Site Today
The remains of the medieval hospital complex still lie in the fields west of the village. Now a Scheduled Ancient Monument, the site includes:
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Moated enclosures and a series of fishponds — believed to have been used for curative bathing.
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Earthworks outlining the former chapel, infirmary, cloister, and main preceptory buildings.
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A naturally occurring sulphurous spring, possibly used in the treatment of leprosy.
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Remnants of what may have been a gatehouse and a bell tower.
Excavations, including those in 1913 by Charles Lindsay and the Duke of Rutland, revealed significant structural remains such as tile kilns, paving, and carved stonework. The site's layout and complexity confirm Burton Lazars’ status as a large and sophisticated medical institution of its time.
Legacy and Relics
Although the hospital was damaged by fire in the 14th century and finally dissolved in 1546, its legacy survives in both the landscape and the local church.
Adjacent to the hospital site, St James' Church, while not directly linked, houses several artefacts thought to originate from the leper hospital. These include:
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Fragments of Norman architecture, such as octagonal columns once believed to have lined the hospital chapel, richly decorated with maple leaves and fleurons — compared by some to the famous Apprentice Pillar in Rosslyn Chapel.
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A poignant stone corbel known as Roger the Leper, dating to the mid-13th century. It depicts a man with facial features distorted by advanced leprosy — a haunting yet compassionate reminder of those the Order served.
Visiting the Site
Today, the site of Burton Lazars lies on private farmland. While the earthworks are still visible, visitors are encouraged to seek permission before exploring. Though the buildings are gone, the site remains a place of historical importance and quiet reflection — a testament to an order of knights who chose compassion over
conquest.
Dugdale writes about Burton Lazars in his Monasticon Anglicanum (1655–1673)
" Roger Mowbray, in the time of King Stephen, giving two caracutes of land, a house, Mill, (sic) to the Lepers of St Lazarus, without the walls of Hierusalem, laid the foundations of a well endowed Hospital, consisting of a master and Eight sound, as well as several poor leprous bretheren, which was the chief of all spittles or Lazare Houses in England, but dependant upon the great house at Heirusalam"
The Site of the Possible Gatehouse at Burton Lazars Order of St Lazarus Hospital Burton Lazars
The Site of the Fishponds at Burton Lazars Order of St Lazarus Hospital Burton Lazars
The Site of the Church/Chapel at Burton Lazars Order of St Lazarus Hospital Burton Lazars
The Site of the Possible Gatehouse at Burton Lazars Order of St Lazarus Hospital Burton Lazars
LOWESBY
GALBY
KIRBY BELLARS CHURCH - (Effigy Roger Beler Patron of the Order
Queniborough
Melton Mowbray -
The Anne of Cleves Inn: A Living Link to the Leper Knights of Medieval England
Tucked in the heart of the historic market town of Melton Mowbray, the Anne of Cleves Inn is far more than a charming, family-run pub—it’s a rare surviving remnant of one of medieval England’s most extraordinary orders: the Knights of St Lazarus, also known as the Leper Knights.
Less than two miles away lies the village of Burton Lazars, once home to the grand leper hospital and headquarters of the Order of St Lazarus in England. Founded in the 12th century by Roger de Mowbray, a crusading nobleman, the hospital at Burton Lazars became a centre of care for those suffering from leprosy—a feared and misunderstood disease at the time. The Leper Knights, members of the Order of St Lazarus, were dedicated not only to military and religious duties but also to caring for society’s most vulnerable.
In 1384, what is now the Anne of Cleves Inn began its life as an important manor house for the order. It served as the residence for fourteen chantry priests who ministered to the lepers at the hospital nearby. This building was part of a broader spiritual mission, as the priests offered prayers and administered the sacraments for both the living and the dead—a vital part of medieval Christian practice.
Today, the Anne of Cleves Inn retains the warm character of its medieval origins while offering the comforts of modern hospitality. With its exposed oak beams, historic stonework, and inviting atmosphere, the inn provides a unique opportunity to dine and relax in a setting steeped in centuries of history. Whether you're enjoying a local ale by the fireplace or exploring the town’s rich heritage, you are walking in the footsteps of knights, priests, and pilgrims who shaped this corner of Leicestershire.
A visit to the Anne of Cleves is not just a trip to the pub—it’s a journey back through time, where medieval faith, service, and community spirit are still quietly echoed in its walls.
Wycomb
Stathern
KNIGHTS OF LAZARUS FIGURES IN LEICESTERSHIRE
Leicestershire & the Lepers: Learn Who Shared Their Chapter of History Here
MASTERS Of BURTON LAZARS:
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Walter de Novo Castro
Philip de Insula
Robert Germin
Roger de Reresby
Richard Ge(r)min
Robert de Danby (1308)
Robert de Leighton (1310)
William (1315)
John Crisping (1316)
William de Tytnt (1324)
Hugh Mitchell (1347)
Robert Halliday (1350)
Richard Clifford (1390)
Geoffrey Shrigley (1431)
William Suiton (1456)
George Sutton (1491)
Thomas Haringwold (1493)
Thomas Norton (1508)
Thomas Rattclyft - 26th Master Henry VIII