Greyfriars, Bristol
Encyclopedia
Greyfriars, in Bristol
, England
, was a Franciscan
friary. The name Greyfriars derived from the grey robes worn by the friars. It was founded at some time before 1234, within the town walls and then moved to Lewin's Mead
in 1250. The site included extensive gardens surrounded by a stone wall. Following the Dissolution of the Monasteries
in the sixteenth century, the premises were leased to the town council in 1541, who desired to use the stone to make repairs to the town walls, and the harbour facilities. In succeeding centuries many different uses have been made of the site, which is currently occupied by an office block and part of Bristol Dental School.
granted wood for fuel to the friars in that year, followed by further grants of oak wood and fresh fish landed at Bristol. The friars wore long grey coats, with a grey hood or cowl, hence the name, grey friars. Originally located within the town walls, the friary was moved to Lewin's Mead in 1250. This followed the diversion of the river Frome
into St Augustine's Reach. A marshy area on the north bank of the Frome was drained and some of the clay and rock from the excavations was deposited on it.
The earliest church on the site was approximately 50 by 9 m (164 by 29.5 ft). It was later enlarged with cloisters, a bell tower and a chapter house being added. The buildings were constructed from the local red sandstone
. Bristol City Museum houses some stained glass which was recovered from the chapter house, probably after the dissolution of the monasteries. Writing in the fifteenth century, William Worcester
described the area of the precinct as roughly bounded by the modern Upper Maudlin Street, Lower Maudlin Street, Lewin's Mead and Johnny Ball Lane. The friars had extensive gardens devoted to horticulture. There were also two lime kilns and the whole was surrounded by freestone walls.
A report in 1538, by Richard Ingworth, during the Dissolution of the Monasteries
, describes the warden of the friary as "stiff". The warden also held office in Richmond and Ingworth went on to say "yet for all his great port, I think him twenty marks in debt, and not able to pay it." Six remaining friars surrendered the property to Ingworth and it was dissolved. The precinct was leased to one Jeremy Green for a total annual rent of 20 shillings and 8 pence
. In 1541, Henry VIII
granted the friary, together with other dissolved houses, to the Mayor and Commonalty of Bristol for a "consideration of £1,000 cash and a yearly fee farm rent of £20". The Mayor had earlier petitioned the king, saying "The Grey Friars of Bristol is of the foundation ... of the town, built by ancient burgesses at their cost; we should like it to repair the walls and quay and to make a wharf."
It is currently occupied by an office development, also called Greyfriars
, and parts of Bristol Dental School. Traces of the abbot's house were discovered during building works in 1989 and a small oval window was incorporated into the new building. Archaeological investigations have found graves with human remains, dating to the thirteenth to fifteenth century, and a medieval conduit, similar to one excavated at Saint Augustine's Abbey
in Bristol.
Bristol
Bristol is a city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, with an estimated population of 433,100 for the unitary authority in 2009, and a surrounding Larger Urban Zone with an estimated 1,070,000 residents in 2007...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, was a Franciscan
Franciscan
Most Franciscans are members of Roman Catholic religious orders founded by Saint Francis of Assisi. Besides Roman Catholic communities, there are also Old Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran, ecumenical and Non-denominational Franciscan communities....
friary. The name Greyfriars derived from the grey robes worn by the friars. It was founded at some time before 1234, within the town walls and then moved to Lewin's Mead
Lewin's Mead
Lewin's Mead is an area of Bristol, England, part of the city ward of Cabot, in the historic centre of the city, lying just outside of the former medieval town walls. Several old buildings survive, including the Unitarian Chapel constructed in the late 18th century, an old sugar house, now a hotel...
in 1250. The site included extensive gardens surrounded by a stone wall. Following the Dissolution of the Monasteries
Dissolution of the Monasteries
The Dissolution of the Monasteries, sometimes referred to as the Suppression of the Monasteries, was the set of administrative and legal processes between 1536 and 1541 by which Henry VIII disbanded monasteries, priories, convents and friaries in England, Wales and Ireland; appropriated their...
in the sixteenth century, the premises were leased to the town council in 1541, who desired to use the stone to make repairs to the town walls, and the harbour facilities. In succeeding centuries many different uses have been made of the site, which is currently occupied by an office block and part of Bristol Dental School.
History
The friary was established at some time before 1234, this being known because Henry IIIHenry III of England
Henry III was the son and successor of John as King of England, reigning for 56 years from 1216 until his death. His contemporaries knew him as Henry of Winchester. He was the first child king in England since the reign of Æthelred the Unready...
granted wood for fuel to the friars in that year, followed by further grants of oak wood and fresh fish landed at Bristol. The friars wore long grey coats, with a grey hood or cowl, hence the name, grey friars. Originally located within the town walls, the friary was moved to Lewin's Mead in 1250. This followed the diversion of the river Frome
River Frome, Bristol
The River Frome is a river, approximately long, which rises in Dodington Park, South Gloucestershire, and flows in a south westerly direction through Bristol, joining the former course of the river Avon in Bristol's Floating Harbour. The mean flow at Frenchay is The name Frome is shared with...
into St Augustine's Reach. A marshy area on the north bank of the Frome was drained and some of the clay and rock from the excavations was deposited on it.
The earliest church on the site was approximately 50 by 9 m (164 by 29.5 ft). It was later enlarged with cloisters, a bell tower and a chapter house being added. The buildings were constructed from the local red sandstone
New Red Sandstone
The New Red Sandstone is a chiefly British geological term for the beds of red sandstone and associated rocks laid down throughout the Permian to the beginning of the Triassic that underlie the Jurassic Lias; the term distinguishes it from the Old Red Sandstone which is largely Devonian in...
. Bristol City Museum houses some stained glass which was recovered from the chapter house, probably after the dissolution of the monasteries. Writing in the fifteenth century, William Worcester
William Worcester
William Worcester , was an English chronicler and antiquary.-Life:He was a son of William of Worcester, a Bristol citizen, and is sometimes called William Botoner, his mother being a daughter of Thomas Botoner from Catalonia....
described the area of the precinct as roughly bounded by the modern Upper Maudlin Street, Lower Maudlin Street, Lewin's Mead and Johnny Ball Lane. The friars had extensive gardens devoted to horticulture. There were also two lime kilns and the whole was surrounded by freestone walls.
A report in 1538, by Richard Ingworth, during the Dissolution of the Monasteries
Dissolution of the Monasteries
The Dissolution of the Monasteries, sometimes referred to as the Suppression of the Monasteries, was the set of administrative and legal processes between 1536 and 1541 by which Henry VIII disbanded monasteries, priories, convents and friaries in England, Wales and Ireland; appropriated their...
, describes the warden of the friary as "stiff". The warden also held office in Richmond and Ingworth went on to say "yet for all his great port, I think him twenty marks in debt, and not able to pay it." Six remaining friars surrendered the property to Ingworth and it was dissolved. The precinct was leased to one Jeremy Green for a total annual rent of 20 shillings and 8 pence
Penny (British pre-decimal coin)
The penny of the Kingdom of Great Britain and later of the United Kingdom, was in circulation from the early 18th century until February 1971, Decimal Day....
. In 1541, Henry VIII
Henry VIII of England
Henry VIII was King of England from 21 April 1509 until his death. He was Lord, and later King, of Ireland, as well as continuing the nominal claim by the English monarchs to the Kingdom of France...
granted the friary, together with other dissolved houses, to the Mayor and Commonalty of Bristol for a "consideration of £1,000 cash and a yearly fee farm rent of £20". The Mayor had earlier petitioned the king, saying "The Grey Friars of Bristol is of the foundation ... of the town, built by ancient burgesses at their cost; we should like it to repair the walls and quay and to make a wharf."
Post-dissolution
The site has been redeveloped many times in subsequent centuries; amongst other uses, a Moravian church and a chocolate factory have occupied premises there.It is currently occupied by an office development, also called Greyfriars
Greyfriars, Bristol (office block)
Greyfriars is the name of a fourteen storey office block built in 1974 in Lewin's Mead in Bristol. It takes its name from Greyfriars, a medieval Franciscan friary which used to occupy the site....
, and parts of Bristol Dental School. Traces of the abbot's house were discovered during building works in 1989 and a small oval window was incorporated into the new building. Archaeological investigations have found graves with human remains, dating to the thirteenth to fifteenth century, and a medieval conduit, similar to one excavated at Saint Augustine's Abbey
Bristol Cathedral
The Cathedral Church of the Holy and Undivided Trinity is the Church of England cathedral in the city of Bristol, England, and is commonly known as Bristol Cathedral...
in Bristol.