St Nicholas Hospital

Although not strictly in Harnham, St Nicholas Hospital in Salisbury is one of England's oldest and most historically significant almshouses. Founded in 1228 by Bishop Robert Bingham, it was established to care for the poor, sick, and infirm, reflecting the medieval Christian tradition of providing shelter and care to those in need.

The earliest reference to the hospital dates back to 1215, when it served as a resting place for travellers crossing the ford at Harnham on their way to Old Sarum. By 1227, the hospital had developed through generous land endowments to provide for the reception, care, and maintenance of the poor and sick. In 1229, Bishop Bingham constructed a bridge across the River Avon at Harnham, and since 1244, one of the two chapels built during this period is still in use for daily worship today.

The hospital is arranged in a three-sided courtyard, incorporating material from two medieval ranges and a mid-19th-century range. The southern range, in particular, showcases the plan form and ornament of the medieval hospital building. The group, as restored by architect William Butterfield in 1854, has considerable interest as a work by this widely-respected Victorian architect, demonstrating sensitivity towards the surviving medieval fabric. 

The hospital is famously associated with the Victorian novelist Anthony Trollope, who, in his 1855 novel The Warden, depicted a fictional institution named Hiram's Hospital. Trollope acknowledged that his inspiration came from a visit to Salisbury in 1851, during which he stood on the little bridge and envisioned the setting for his story.

Today, St Nicholas Hospital operates as a Christian almshouse, providing self-contained accommodation for individuals of limited means who are willing to participate in daily worship and live in community. The hospital continues its long-standing tradition of hospitality and service, maintaining its medieval chapel beside the River Avon