A misericord (also sometimes called a mercy) is a small wooden shelf on the underside of a folding seat in a church, installed to provide a degree of comfort for a person who has to stand during long periods of prayer (such as medieval monks).
Eastbridge Hospital in Canterbury was founded by Edward Fitz Odbold, a wealthy Canterbury merchant. He built it to provide accommodation for poor pilgrims visiting the shrine of Thomas Becket. The hospital was in existence by 1172, and Rolph, the nephew of Becket, was probably the first master. It contains a large medieval fresco of Christ (see photo).
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