The Franciscan Friary, Lichfield
Artists impression of the Friary
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| Monastery information | |
|---|---|
| Order | Franciscan Friars |
| Established | 1237 |
| Disestablished | 1538 |
| Architecture | |
| Heritage designation | Scheduled Ancient Monument |
| Site | |
| Location | Lichfield, Staffordshire |
| Coordinates | 52°40′55″N 1°49′48″W / 52.68191°N 1.83008°WCoordinates: 52°40′55″N 1°49′48″W / 52.68191°N 1.83008°W |
| Visible remains | floor slab of cloister and nave, Bishops Lodging |
| Public access | Yes |
The Franciscan Friary was once a large estate located on the west side of Lichfield city centre in Staffordshire. The estate was built and inhabited by the Franciscan Friars from 1237. At one time the estate consisted of a large church, a cloister, dormitory lodge and a refectory building as well as many other domestic dwellings.
Henry VIII ordered the dissolution of the Friary in 1538 and the majority of the buildings on the estate were demolished. Today the site of the Friary is a Scheduled Ancient Monument and the excavated ruins of some of the original buildings are visible in the specially designated site. The only original buildings still standing are present at the south west end of Lichfield Library.
The Franciscan Friars were an order of monks founded by St Francis of Assisi in 1209. In 1237 a group of these monks came to Lichfield to set up home. In the town they became known as the Grey Friars because of the colour of their habits. The Bishop of Lichfield at the time, Bishop Stavenby founded the Friary when he granted the friars ‘certain free burgages in the town for them to set their house on’.
The Friary was treated very generously during its time in Lichfield. They received gifts frequently in order to develop their estate. In 1237 King Henry III gave them oak trees from local forests for building and grants of money. In 1241 the Sheriff of Lichfield was authorised ‘to clothe the Friars of Lichfield’. In 1286 King Edward I provided them with 8 oak trees from Cannock Chase for further building. As the estate was developing a large fire broke out in Lichfield in 1291 destroying the Friary.
Again after the fire the Friars were treated generously by Lichfield and it was promptly rebuilt. In 1301 the Crucifix Conduit was built at the gates of the Friary at the corner of Bore Street and Bird Street. Henry Champanar, son of Michael de Lichfield, granted the Friars free water supply for their use from his springs at Aldershawe. The Crucifix Conduit remained in that position until the 19th century.
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Wikipedia