Greyfriars, Bristol

Greyfriars, Bristol
Location within Bristol
General information
Architectural style	monastic
Town or city	Bristol
Country	England
Coordinates	51°27′29″N 2°35′44″W / 51.458098°N 2.595649°W / 51.458098; -2.595649
Construction started	13th century
Demolished	16th century

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.

The friary was established at some time before 1234, this being known because Henry III 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 metres (164 ft × 30 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.