Blackfriars, Bristol
Encyclopedia
Blackfriars, Bristol was a Dominican
priory
in Broadmead
, Bristol
, England
. It was founded by Maurice de Gaunt
in 1227 or 1228. Llywelyn ap Dafydd
, son of Dafydd ap Gruffydd
, the last native Prince of Wales
, was buried in the cemetery of the priory. Following the Dissolution of the Monasteries
in the 16th century, surviving parts of the priory became a guildhall for the Smiths and Cutlers Company, the Bakers Company, a workhouse and then a meeting house for the Quakers. In the 20th century it has housed the local Register Office, a theatre company and a restaurant.
supported the building of the church and priory, which took over forty years. Oak was supplied from the Forest of Dean
and the king granted the friars charitable gifts and a moiety of fish landed in the port.
In 1232, a royal grant gave the friars the right to build a conduit to supply fresh water from Peniwell, now known as Pennywell. This conduit was later given to the Mayor and town council in exchange for a feather, a branch pipe, supplying fresh water from Baptist Mills
. In 1287, Llywelyn ap Dafydd
, de jure Prince of Gwynedd, died in captivity in Bristol Castle and was buried in the Blackfriars graveyard.
John Hilsey
, prior
of Blackfriars became provincial
of the Dominican order in England in 1534. Thomas Cromwell appointed him as one of Henry VIII
's visitors, charged with inspecting monastic houses and administering the oath of allegiance, under the Act of Supremacy. In 1538 during the Dissolution of the Monasteries
, four remaining friars surrendered the buildings and contents. In 1540 the site was purchased from the king by William Chester, who had just finished a term of office as Mayor of Bristol. The area comprised some 6.75 acres (2.7 ha)
During the reign of Elizabeth I
parts of the premises were acquired by the Smiths and Cutlers Company and they in turn leased parts of it to the Corporation in 1654 for use as a workhouse for poor girls. Eventually the Smith's Hall and the adjacent Baker's Hall were acquired by the Religious Society of Friends
and the premises became popularly known as Quakers Friars
. In 1681 a mob led by John Hellier attacked the Quakers' meeting hall during persecutions following the Conventicles Act 1670
.
. Since 2008, following the redevelopment of Broadmead, a restaurant is located there.
Dominican Order
The Order of Preachers , after the 15th century more commonly known as the Dominican Order or Dominicans, is a Catholic religious order founded by Saint Dominic and approved by Pope Honorius III on 22 December 1216 in France...
priory
Priory
A priory is a house of men or women under religious vows that is headed by a prior or prioress. Priories may be houses of mendicant friars or religious sisters , or monasteries of monks or nuns .The Benedictines and their offshoots , the Premonstratensians, and the...
in Broadmead
Broadmead
Broadmead is a street in the central area of Bristol, England, which has given its name to the principal shopping district of the city.- History :The name of the street was first recorded in 1383 as Brodemede...
, 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 founded by Maurice de Gaunt
Maurice de Gaunt
Maurice de Gaunt was the founder of Beverston Castle in Gloucestershire, England. He began the construction circa 1225 without royal licence, and completed the project in 1229 with the granting of a licence for the final crenellation. Beverston Castle was further enlarged in the mid...
in 1227 or 1228. Llywelyn ap Dafydd
Llywelyn ap Dafydd
Llywelyn ap Dafydd , de jure Prince of Gwynedd , was the eldest son of Dafydd ap Gruffydd the last free ruler of Gwynedd and his wife Elizabeth Ferrers. Nothing is known of his early life, though it is thought he was probably born some time around 1267...
, son of Dafydd ap Gruffydd
Dafydd ap Gruffydd
Dafydd ap Gruffydd was Prince of Wales from 11 December 1282 until his execution on 3 October 1283 by King Edward I of England...
, the last native Prince of Wales
Prince 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...
, was buried in the cemetery of the priory. 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 16th century, surviving parts of the priory became a guildhall for the Smiths and Cutlers Company, the Bakers Company, a workhouse and then a meeting house for the Quakers. In the 20th century it has housed the local Register Office, a theatre company and a restaurant.
History
Blackfriars was founded as a Dominican priory by Maurice de Gaunt circa 1227. The site in Broadmead was just north of the town walls. The name "Blackfriars" comes from the black hooded cloak that the friars wore over their white habits. 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...
supported the building of the church and priory, which took over forty years. Oak was supplied from the Forest of Dean
Forest of Dean
The Forest of Dean is a geographical, historical and cultural region in the western part of the county of Gloucestershire, England. The forest is a roughly triangular plateau bounded by the River Wye to the west and north, the River Severn to the south, and the City of Gloucester to the east.The...
and the king granted the friars charitable gifts and a moiety of fish landed in the port.
In 1232, a royal grant gave the friars the right to build a conduit to supply fresh water from Peniwell, now known as Pennywell. This conduit was later given to the Mayor and town council in exchange for a feather, a branch pipe, supplying fresh water from Baptist Mills
Baptist Mills, Bristol
Baptist Mills an area of the city of Bristol, England. The name derives from the former mills which stood in that area.-History:Baptist Mills is so named from the mills that once stood there. They were fed from the River Frome....
. In 1287, Llywelyn ap Dafydd
Llywelyn ap Dafydd
Llywelyn ap Dafydd , de jure Prince of Gwynedd , was the eldest son of Dafydd ap Gruffydd the last free ruler of Gwynedd and his wife Elizabeth Ferrers. Nothing is known of his early life, though it is thought he was probably born some time around 1267...
, de jure Prince of Gwynedd, died in captivity in Bristol Castle and was buried in the Blackfriars graveyard.
John Hilsey
John Hilsey
John Hilsey was an English Dominican, prior provincial of his order, then an agent of Henry VIII and his church reformation, and Bishop of Rochester.-Life:...
, prior
Prior
Prior is an ecclesiastical title, derived from the Latin adjective for 'earlier, first', with several notable uses.-Monastic superiors:A Prior is a monastic superior, usually lower in rank than an Abbot. In the Rule of St...
of Blackfriars became provincial
Provincial superior
A Provincial Superior is a major superior of a religious order acting under the order's Superior General and exercising a general supervision over all the members of that order in a territorial division of the order called a province--similar to but not to be confused with an ecclesiastical...
of the Dominican order in England in 1534. Thomas Cromwell appointed him as one of 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...
's visitors, charged with inspecting monastic houses and administering the oath of allegiance, under the Act of Supremacy. In 1538 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...
, four remaining friars surrendered the buildings and contents. In 1540 the site was purchased from the king by William Chester, who had just finished a term of office as Mayor of Bristol. The area comprised some 6.75 acres (2.7 ha)
During the reign of 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...
parts of the premises were acquired by the Smiths and Cutlers Company and they in turn leased parts of it to the Corporation in 1654 for use as a workhouse for poor girls. Eventually the Smith's Hall and the adjacent Baker's Hall were acquired by the Religious Society of Friends
Religious Society of Friends
The Religious Society of Friends, or Friends Church, is a Christian movement which stresses the doctrine of the priesthood of all believers. Members are known as Friends, or popularly as Quakers. It is made of independent organisations, which have split from one another due to doctrinal differences...
and the premises became popularly known as Quakers Friars
Quakers Friars
Quakers Friars is a historic building in Broadmead, Bristol, England.The site is the remains of a Dominican friary, Blackfriars that was established by Maurice de Gaunt, circa 1227....
. In 1681 a mob led by John Hellier attacked the Quakers' meeting hall during persecutions following the Conventicles Act 1670
Conventicles Act 1670
The Conventicles Act 1670 is an Act of the Parliament of England with the long title "An Act to prevent and suppress Seditious Conventicles." The Act imposed a fine on any person who attended a conventicle of five shillings for the first offence and ten shillings for a second offence...
.
Today
Some of the original structures, much altered by subsequent use, survive and have been recorded by English Heritage. In the late 20th century the buildings housed Bristol Register Office and for a short time Show of Strength Theatre CompanyShow of Strength Theatre Company
Sheila Hannon and Nick Thomas co-founded the company in Bristol in 1986, and it began as a two-handed company performing in small touring venues. In 1989 the company moved into an upstairs reception room above the Hen and Chicken pub in Bedminster. In the succeeding years they produced five...
. Since 2008, following the redevelopment of Broadmead, a restaurant is located there.