Whitefriars, Bristol
Encyclopedia
Whitefriars was a Carmelite
friary on the lower slopes of St Michael's Hill, Bristol
, England
. It was established in 1267; in subsequent centuries a friary church was built and extensive gardens developed. The establishment was dissolved
in 1538.
Much of the site was then redeveloped by Sir John Young, who built a "Great House" there. This later became a boys' school founded by Edward Colston
in the 18th century. The Red Lodge
, which survives today as a museum, had its origins as a prospect house for the Prior. The Colston Hall
, a venue for concerts, was built on part of the friary site in the 19th century. A 20th century office block named Whitefriars, built a short distance way, preserves the name.
, the future king Edward I
. The friars, also known as Friars of the Blessed Virgin, wore white habit
s, hence the name Whitefriars. In the fifteenth century William of Worcester, described the church as having dimensions of 45 by 25 yd (41.1 by 22.9 m), with a tower 200 feet (61 m) high. The friary was described by the antiquary
Leyland, writing in the early sixteenth century, as standing on the right bank of the Frome
by the quay. He added that it was "the fairest friary in England". The friary had a large expanse of adjoining land extending up St Michael's Hill. This was used for horticulture and the Carmelites sold produce to augment their income.
Writing to Thomas Cromwell
in 1538, Richard Ingworth, one of the commissioners or visitors charged with inspecting monastic houses, reported that the contents of the friary only just met the debts owed by the friars. He described a chapel with lead roofing, gardens and a "goodly howse in byldenge, mete for a great man", also a conduit bringing fresh water from Brandon Hill
, later taken over by St John's Church
. Four remaining friars surrendered their possessions to the commissioner in the presence of the Mayor.
, which had its origins as a prospect house for the prior of Whitefriars. This building became the lodge house of an Elizabethan
mansion, the Great House, built in the late 16th century by John Young, who had bought the friary from Bristol Corporation after the Dissolution of the Monasteries
. The Great House was where Elizabeth I
stayed, as a guest of John Young, in 1574. In the 18th century, the house was acquired by Edward Colston
, who established the original Colston's School there. After the school moved to Stapleton
in 1857, the Colston Hall Society purchased the premises, and demolished the house to build the Colston Hall
, which now occupies the site. Excavations during the building of the adjacent Colston House in the early 20th century found medieval walls, burials and floor tiles.
As part of the post-war redevelopment of Bristol city centre
, the name Whitefriars was given to a large multi-storey office
development located in Lewin's Mead
, a few hundred yards from the site of the original Whitefriars and adjoining the site of the Greyfriars
office complex. The building has thirteen floors and stands 49 metres (160.8 ft) high. It was completed in 1976.
Carmelites
The Order of the Brothers of Our Lady of Mount Carmel or Carmelites is a Catholic religious order perhaps founded in the 12th century on Mount Carmel, hence its name. However, historical records about its origin remain uncertain...
friary on the lower slopes of St Michael's Hill, 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...
. It was established in 1267; in subsequent centuries a friary church was built and extensive gardens developed. The establishment was dissolved
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 1538.
Much of the site was then redeveloped by Sir John Young, who built a "Great House" there. This later became a boys' school founded by Edward Colston
Edward Colston
Edward Colston was a Bristol-born English merchant and Member of Parliament. Much of his wealth, although used often for philanthropic purposes, was acquired through the trade and exploitation of slaves...
in the 18th century. The Red Lodge
Red Lodge Museum, Bristol
The Red Lodge Museum is an historic building in Bristol, England.It is open to the public is a branch of Bristol City Museum and Art Gallery.- History :...
, which survives today as a museum, had its origins as a prospect house for the Prior. The Colston Hall
Colston Hall
The Colston Hall is a concert hall and grade II listed building situated on Colston Street, Bristol, England. A popular venue catering for a variety of different entertainers, it seats approximately 2,075 and provides licensed bars, a café and restaurant....
, a venue for concerts, was built on part of the friary site in the 19th century. A 20th century office block named Whitefriars, built a short distance way, preserves the name.
History
Whitefriars was founded in 1267 by the Prince of WalesPrince of Wales
Prince of Wales is a title traditionally granted to the heir apparent to the reigning monarch of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the 15 other independent Commonwealth realms...
, the future king Edward I
Edward I of England
Edward I , also known as Edward Longshanks and the Hammer of the Scots, was King of England from 1272 to 1307. The first son of Henry III, Edward was involved early in the political intrigues of his father's reign, which included an outright rebellion by the English barons...
. The friars, also known as Friars of the Blessed Virgin, wore white habit
Religious habit
A religious habit is a distinctive set of garments worn by members of a religious order. Traditionally some plain garb recognisable as a religious habit has also been worn by those leading the religious eremitic and anachoritic life, although in their case without conformity to a particular uniform...
s, hence the name Whitefriars. In the fifteenth century William of Worcester, described the church as having dimensions of 45 by 25 yd (41.1 by 22.9 m), with a tower 200 feet (61 m) high. The friary was described by the antiquary
Antiquarian
An antiquarian or antiquary is an aficionado or student of antiquities or things of the past. More specifically, the term is used for those who study history with particular attention to ancient objects of art or science, archaeological and historic sites, or historic archives and manuscripts...
Leyland, writing in the early sixteenth century, as standing on the right bank of the 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...
by the quay. He added that it was "the fairest friary in England". The friary had a large expanse of adjoining land extending up St Michael's Hill. This was used for horticulture and the Carmelites sold produce to augment their income.
Writing to Thomas Cromwell
Thomas Cromwell, 1st Earl of Essex
Thomas Cromwell, 1st Earl of Essex, , was an English statesman who served as chief minister of King Henry VIII of England from 1532 to 1540....
in 1538, Richard Ingworth, one of the commissioners or visitors charged with inspecting monastic houses, reported that the contents of the friary only just met the debts owed by the friars. He described a chapel with lead roofing, gardens and a "goodly howse in byldenge, mete for a great man", also a conduit bringing fresh water from Brandon Hill
Brandon Hill, Bristol
Brandon Hill, also known as St Brandon's Hill, is a hill close to Bristol city centre, between the districts of Clifton and Hotwells, in south west England....
, later taken over by St John's Church
Church of St John the Baptist, Bristol
The Church of St John the Baptist, Bristol is a former Church of England parish church at the lower end of Broad Street Bristol, England.-Design and construction:...
. Four remaining friars surrendered their possessions to the commissioner in the presence of the Mayor.
Post-dissolution
Some monastic cells, thought to belong to the friary, survive under the Red LodgeRed Lodge Museum, Bristol
The Red Lodge Museum is an historic building in Bristol, England.It is open to the public is a branch of Bristol City Museum and Art Gallery.- History :...
, which had its origins as a prospect house for the prior of Whitefriars. This building became the lodge house of an Elizabethan
Elizabethan era
The Elizabethan era was the epoch in English history of Queen Elizabeth I's reign . Historians often depict it as the golden age in English history...
mansion, the Great House, built in the late 16th century by John Young, who had bought the friary from Bristol Corporation after 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...
. The Great House was where Elizabeth I
Elizabeth I of England
Elizabeth I was queen regnant of England and Ireland from 17 November 1558 until her death. Sometimes called The Virgin Queen, Gloriana, or Good Queen Bess, Elizabeth was the fifth and last monarch of the Tudor dynasty...
stayed, as a guest of John Young, in 1574. In the 18th century, the house was acquired by Edward Colston
Edward Colston
Edward Colston was a Bristol-born English merchant and Member of Parliament. Much of his wealth, although used often for philanthropic purposes, was acquired through the trade and exploitation of slaves...
, who established the original Colston's School there. After the school moved to Stapleton
Stapleton, Bristol
Stapleton is an area in the north-eastern suburbs of the city of Bristol, England. The name is colloquially used today to describe the ribbon village along Bell Hill and Park Road in the Frome Valley. It borders Eastville to the South and Begbrook and Frenchay to the North...
in 1857, the Colston Hall Society purchased the premises, and demolished the house to build the Colston Hall
Colston Hall
The Colston Hall is a concert hall and grade II listed building situated on Colston Street, Bristol, England. A popular venue catering for a variety of different entertainers, it seats approximately 2,075 and provides licensed bars, a café and restaurant....
, which now occupies the site. Excavations during the building of the adjacent Colston House in the early 20th century found medieval walls, burials and floor tiles.
As part of the post-war redevelopment of Bristol city centre
Bristol city centre
Bristol city centre is the commercial, cultural and business centre of Bristol, England. It is the area south of the central ring road and north of the Floating Harbour, bounded north by St Pauls and Easton, east by Temple Meads and Redcliffe, and west by Clifton and Canon's Marsh...
, the name Whitefriars was given to a large multi-storey office
Office
An office is generally a room or other area in which people work, but may also denote a position within an organization with specific duties attached to it ; the latter is in fact an earlier usage, office as place originally referring to the location of one's duty. When used as an adjective, the...
development located in 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...
, a few hundred yards from the site of the original Whitefriars and adjoining the site of the 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....
office complex. The building has thirteen floors and stands 49 metres (160.8 ft) high. It was completed in 1976.