Monument record 1160/11 - Greyfriars Franciscan Friary

The Franciscans arrived in Northampton in 1226, and were settled outside the East Gate, near St Edmund's Church, by Sir Richard Gobion. They moved to a new site in the parish of St Sepulchre's in 1235, completing the friary by 1258. They then began building a house for their schools. The house was surrendered in 1538. The friary seems to have consisted of the church, a greater and lesser cloister, and perhaps a separate school. The precinct enclosed about four acres. Excavations have located the church and one of the claustral ranges, and part of the cemetery.

{1} Franciscan Friary. Greyfriars came to Northampton in 1226 and moved to this site circa 1235. It probably covered an area of approximately 4 acres. Various royal grants of timber for constructional use are recorded. They were dissolved in 1538.

{3} Franciscans/Greyfriars were also known as the Friars Minor. A small detachment from Oxford arrived circa 1224. One of priests was Richard of Kingsthorpe and his birthplace was one of reasons for them to come to Northampton. They were grouped under the custody of Oxford. First established in the parish of St.Giles, in a house outside the eastern walls of the town. After gaining popularity in the town the friars moved to a good site granted them in the north-east of the town. Various royal grants included a horse and cart, and in 1278 they were granted four oaks from the forest of Silverstone indicating that new building was underway. They were dissolved on October 28th 1538 in a deed signed by the warden and 10 brethren.

{6} The Friars Minor or Franciscans or Grey Friars were founded in 1245 and supported by town. They hired their first habitation in the parish of St.Giles but later moved north of the market-place where they had the largest and best house of all the friars in Northampton. The ground was given to them by the town and its inhabitants are said to have been their founders. There are no remains except for the name of Grey Friars Street. They surrendered in 1539.

{7} General bequests to house of Friars Minor for their maintenance and relief.

{10} The surrender of the house and all its possessions to the king's use took place in 1538. Attorneys Ambrose Clarke and Roger Wall were appointed to receive and deliver the premises to the said John London.

{11} Speed shows Greyfriars to the north of Lady's Lane but this is in effect the Whitefriars ie. misinterpretation. Greyfriars in fact was located to the south of Lady's Lane and the precinct wall similar to that of Whitefriars is in fact shown. However this wall runs the whole length of Lady's Lane before turning south to Abington Street, and encloses more land than owned by Greyfriars.

{12} The best built and largest of the friaries in Northampton, it stood beyond the chief market place. Was built on land presented to friars by the townsfolk.

{13} Details from newly discovered manuscript: Sir Richard Gobion settled the friars outside east gate of town on his own estate. Gobion's own son took the habit which caused much friction. Between 1236-39 the Greyfriars were brought into the town to healthier and more commodious habitation in St Sepulchre parish.

{16} Franciscans settled in the town in 1226. The first site was outside the east gate, but circa 1235 they moved to a site almost due north of the Market Place. They surrendered in 1538, by the warden and 10 friars.

{17} The field of Grey Friars is considerably sunk and was called Potter's Field. The friars first hired habitation in St Giles Parish, then moved to ground given them by townsmen who are said to have been their founders. The house was built circa 30th of Henry III ie.1245-6. Although said to be the largest and best house of all the friars in the town its value at dissolution was only £6.17s.4d, indicating their dependence on the charity of the town's inhabitants. They surrendered October 28th 1539.

{18} Franciscans came to Northampton in 1226. Sir Richard Gobion settled them outside the east gate of the town initially. They settled within town 1236-39. Various accounts between 1300 and 1334 record 32-34 friars present in the house. Williams notes past confusion in siting of various monastic houses particularly Grey Friars and White Friars. In 1247 timber was granted for the building of the infirmary. In 1238 the King granted timber from Salcey Forest for the construction of the chapel. The friars are recorded as building a parlour or locutorium in 1257. Following dissolution the rent was set at 3s.4d for the Little Orchard. The Little Orchard is included on the sale listing of 1544, and said to be 0.5 acres. Another orchard was leased at 3s.4d following dissolution, in the 1544 sale this is listed as the Great Orchard of 1.5 acres. The sale listing of 1544 includes a garden in the second cloister known as the kitchen garden.

{19} An area of orchard was bounded by Newlands and Lady's Lane and Cock Lane, is approximately 4.5 acres and might represent the extent of the Greyfriars precinct which from post-dissolution sales lists can be estimated at that acreage.

{20} Greyfriars was founded in 1210. They came to England in 1224. General background to their arrival given. Two brethren came to Northampton and established themselves in the parish of St Giles. Quotes Eccleston. Details of grants of oaks for fuel throughout Henry's long reign. Cites details of enquiries made of the friars income at the beginning of Edward I's reign. Edward continued the favours to Greyfriars in the manner of Henry. The chapel was evidently a substantial building as it took several years to complete.

The site of the monastery was let, 2nd June 1540, to Thomas Thorne ….. The tenant was to pay …. 3/4 for the "little orchard"…. Another orchard in the precincts was let to Mary Smyth at 3/4 a year. On December 16 1544, Richard Taverner entered into negotiation with the King for the purchase of the Greyfriars' property and the sale is entered on the Patent Rolls in March 1544:" …and the orchard called "le greate orcheyarde" containing by estimation one acre and a half ….. And one orcharde called "le litle orcheyarde" containing by estimation half an acre…"

{21} For the first six years the house was insignificant. In 1232 the king ordered that 10 oaks from Salcey were to be used for fuel.

{22} In 1234 the friars were granted a further 6 oaks from Salcey Forest for fuel.

{23} While the king was in Northampton in March 1235 he gave the friars 10 old oaks from Salcey Forest for fuel.

{24} Another 5 oaks were granted to the friars in 1236.

{27} In July 1257 king ordered keeper of Salcey Forest to grant Friars Minor 12 oaks for purpose of building Parlour or Locutorium.

{28} The first important building operation was the chapel for which the friars were granted timber from Salcey Forest in 1238.

{29} In 1247 the king gave 6 oaks from Salcey Forest for the building of the Infirmary.

{30} In 1239 the Sheriff was ordered to grant 10 marks from the shire towards the expense of building a chapel.

{31} In 1240 Sheriff was again ordered to give 5 marks towards the building of Greyfriars chapel, so building was still going on at this time.

{32} In 1241 two friars received a gift of 6 oaks for timber for building their chapel.

{33} Poem "The Friar of Orders Grey";

<1> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1985, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, p.340 Site 16 (checked) (Series). SNN77383.

<2> Bridges J., 1791, The History and Antiquities of Northamptonshire, p.455 (unchecked) (Book). SNN77325.

<3> Serjeantson R.M.; Ryland W. (Editors), 1906, The Victoria History of the Counties of England: Northamptonshire, p.146 (checked) (Series). SNN100369.

<4> Knowles; Hadcock, 1971, Medieval Religious Houses England and Wales, p.222+227 (unchecked) (Book). SNN10192.

<5> WELSH T.C., 1999, Document Search: St Michael's Church, The Carmelite Friary and Greyfriars Sites, Northampton, (part checked) (Document). SNN57838.

<6> Whellan, 1874, History, Topography & Directory of Northamptonshire, p.118; Notes in NDC SMR File M25; (checked) (Book). SNN1002.

<7> Serjeantson R.M.; Longden Isham H., 1913, The Parish Churches & Religious Houses of Northamptonshire: Their Dedications, Altars etc., p.231 (checked); Copy in NDC SMR File M25; (Extract). SNN1080.

<8> Calendar of Pipe Rolls, 30 Henry III (unchecked) (Document). SNN3785.

<9> Calendar of Close Rolls (undated), 30 Henry III/M.17 (unchecked) (Document). SNN2187.

<10> 1538, Letters & Papers of Henry VIII (LPFD 1-30, Vol.13), (checked) (Document). SNN1090.

<11> Speed J., 1610, Map of Northamptonshire, (checked) (Map). SNN559.

<12> Hearne T., 1710, Collectanea (Leland J.), p.10 (unchecked) (Series). SNN974.

<13> ECCLESTON, De Adventu Minorum, 9 (unchecked) (Document). SNN2981.

<14> Roach Smith C., Collectanea Antiqua, 341-2 (unchecked) (Series). SNN56749.

<15> Calendar of Close Rolls (undated), Edward I/M.4+15 (unchecked) (Document). SNN2187.

<16> Ordnance Survey, 1950s/1960s, Ordnance Survey Record Cards, SP76SE29 (part checked) (Index). SNN443.

<17> Wetton, 1849, Guidebook to Northampton and its Vicinity, p.47-49 (part checked) (Book). SNN1032.

<18> Williams J., 1978, Excavations at Greyfriars, Northampton 1972, p.97-102 (checked) (Article). SNN459.

<19> Noble; Butlin, 1746, Town Map, (checked) (Map). SNN430.

<20> SERJEANTSON R.M., 1910, The Greyfriars of Northampton, p.6-7, 270-280 (checked) (Article). SNN3358.

<21> Calendar of Close Rolls (undated), 16 Henry III/M.8 (unchecked) (Document). SNN2187.

<22> Calendar of Close Rolls (undated), 18 Henry III/M.28 (unchecked) (Document). SNN2187.

<23> Calendar of Close Rolls (undated), 19 Henry III/pt.1 M.16 (unchecked) (Document). SNN2187.

<24> Calendar of Close Rolls (undated), 20 Henry III/M.16 (unchecked) (Document). SNN2187.

<25> Welsh, T., 2012, Historical Summary: The Grosvenor Centre Development Area, (unchecked) (Document). SNN108619.

<26> Masters P., 2000, Desk-Based Archaeological Assessment Of The Proposed Grosvenor Shopping Centre Extension, Northampton, (unchecked) (Report). SNN100263.

<27> Calendar of Close Rolls (undated), 41 Henry III/M.5 (unchecked) (Document). SNN2187.

<28> Calendar of Close Rolls (undated), 22 Henry III/M.12 (unchecked) (Document). SNN2187.

<29> Calendar of Close Rolls (undated), 31 Henry III/M.5 (unchecked) (Document). SNN2187.

<30> Calendar of Liberate Rolls, 23 Henry III m.27 (unchecked) (Document). SNN3497.

<31> Calendar of Liberate Rolls, 25 Henry III m.15 (unchecked) (Document). SNN3497.

<32> Calendar of Close Rolls (undated), 26 Henry III/M.10 (unchecked) (Document). SNN2187.

<33> Dryden H.E.L., 1842-1895, Dryden Collection, DR/25/198/15 (Archive). SNN115.

Record last edited

Mar 20 2024 12:49PM