Black Death

From the 11th century to around the time of the Black Death, 1346–1352, possibly more than 300 leprosaria emerged across England. These were settlements, part monastery-part hospital. There, leprosy sufferers lived together in communities that were not completely isolated. Some leprosaria were more rigid than others in the rules that governed them; sufferers were expected to work, engage in spiritual devotion, pray, and practise celibacy. Harsh punishment would be meted out to those who disobeyed.

The first recorded leprosaria in England was built around a chapel named St. Mary Magdalen in Hampshire. Like monasteries and convents, leprosaria were sustained by donations from members of society and wealthy patrons.

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Attitudes towards leprosy were complex: some viewed it as divine punishment for sin, known as "the living death," while others compared the afflicted to being in purgatory on Earth, meaning sufferers after death would go straight to heaven. Some believed those with leprosy were closer to God and hence worthy subjects of benevolence, even reveration.

Most leprosaria grew and raised their own food, but they weren’t isolated from society; the sufferers' friends and families could come and visit.

Like most good things, there were some who abused the system. Evidence shows that a lot of the residents weren’t actually suffering from leprosy; this could be due to misdiagnosis or simply because these colonies were a good, safe haven to live, especially for the desperate and destitute.

After the Black Death decimated medieval Europe, societies became more concerned about contagion and disease, which resulted in a harsher approach to those afflicted with contagious diseases like leprosy. It became a stigma, and the communities were forced into stricter isolation and had harsher restrictions imposed on them. Many of the leprosaria had to shut their gates, turning out their dwellers; others were turned into almshouses and general hospitals.

Source:

Harry Sherrin for https://www.historyhit.com