|
|
Members of SWAG visited Blackfriars, the 13th Century Dominican priory in Gloucester, on 8th August 2005. Built on land formerly occupied by the castle of William the Conqueror, Blackfriars is the most complete survival of a Dominican priory in Britain. Bob Ruffle's full account of the day's visit is available in SWAG Newsletter No. 96, December 2005. Thanks to Dennis Williams and Bob Ruffle for making their photos available for the website. |
|
|
Founded in the early 13th century, the Dominican or black friars arrived in Gloucester in 1239, Henry III providing land and materials for building. |
 Photo ©Bob Ruffle 2005 |
|
 Photo ©Bob Ruffle 2005 |
Being itinerant preachers, the friars chose urban sites
to give them a base for their activities. Unfortunately this has meant
that few friaries have remained untouched but the one in Gloucester
is the most complete in the country, having been converted to domestic
and industrial use after the Rerformation. Thomas Bell, a wealthy clothier,
converted the church into a grand house and the conventual buildings
into workshops.
|
|
|
The whole complex is remarkably complete, but with
evidence of post-mediaeval adaptations everywhere evident. In much later
times there was a mineral water and beer bottling plant here, the painted
advertisement for the business still visible in the street outside.
|
|
|
 Photo ©Bob Ruffle 2005 |
|
|
Information on the Internet:
The following links have been broken but may be restored at some point
| ||
www.swag-online.org.uk
