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"Spital" is a medieval corruption of "hospital", which did not mean a place for treating the sick but various kinds of accommodation, often aimed at pilgrims.

Spitalfields took its name from St Mary Spital (hospital), an important Augustinian Priory and guesthouse outside Billingsgate, London, founded in the 12th century. It was intended for very poor, elderly and homeless people rather than for pilgrims and it had an attached infirmary for treating the sick.

There was a huge cemetery which has been scientifically examined - over 10,500 skeletons were discovered.

At that time the Priory was surrounded by agricultural fields rather than housing; hence the name of the area was "Spitalfields".

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13y ago

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