Monument record 1160/11/1 - Greyfriars Church Building

The probable church of the friary was excavated in 1972. A large east-west range close to Princes Street was interpreted as the church largely due to burials inside and outside the structure.

{1}Friary seems to have comprised a church......; excavation in advance of development uncovered part of church; several periods of building noted; burials present within church; finds made including architectural fragments & tiles & coins & jettons & bronze seal & medieval pot sherds & other artefacts;
{3}Excavations uncovered part of the church; area circa 30 x 7m within church was excavated; three building phases identified; latest phase floored with glazed tiles of which many decorated & set into mortar base; many burials located within church;
{6}Excavation of Franciscan Friary uncovered part of church; three building phases identified latest having glazed floor tiles;
{7}Humphrey Duke of Buckingham buried in sepulchre within church of Grey Friars following death at Battle of Northampton in 1460; excommunication sentences pronounced in early C14th against abduction of probable sanctuary seekers in friary church; post dissolution memorandum of receiver Dr. London in 1539 stated that Grey Friars' church was covered with lead;
{12}Mentions that church occupies the greater part of Kerr Street but this is confused with church of the Carmelites or Whitefriars friary;
{13}In church was buried wife of William Fitz-Warine; also Giles de Badelesmere who died circa 1290 & Duke of Buckingham killed at Battle of Northampton & also two of Salisburys; church stood nearly opposite Wood Street; greater part of church site is under Kerr Street; note: possibly confused with church of White Friars;
{15}Excavations on site of Franciscan Friary uncovered part of church; area circa 30x7m opened over church; at least three building phases; burials within church;{14}Roger Salisbury buried in church of Saint Francis in order of Friars Minor; bequests etc;
{16}In 1246 king granted friars 10 good oaks from Salcey towards building of church & houses;
{18}In 1246 Sheriff ordered to carry timber from Salcey Forest to Greyfriars. In 1247 Sheriff instructed to give 15 marks towards cost of roofing church which was therefore nearing completion;
{21}Excavations on site of Franciscan Friary uncovered part of church; area c.30m x 7m within church was excavated; extensively robbed; at leaast 3 phases of building identified; latest phase floored with glazed tiles many of which were decorated & set on mortar base; many closely-packed burials found including vault which had been twice used;
{20}In 1238 friars undertook enlargement of church & king granted them 6 oaks for this work;

<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.

<3> Williams J.H., 1973, South Midlands Archaeology: CBA Group 9 Newsletter (3), 29 (Journal). SNN896.

<6> 1973, Medieval Archaeology (17), 17/155 (Journal). SNN35139.

<7> Serjeantson R.M.; Ryland W. (Editors), 1906, The Victoria History of the Counties of England: Northamptonshire, p.146 (checked) (Series). SNN100369.

<8> Dugdale, 1817, Monasticon Anglicanum, 166 (Uncertain). SNN9460.

<9> MEMORANDA, 112 (Uncertain). SNN56754.

<11> 1539, Letters & Papers of Henry VIII (LPFD 1-30, Vol.14), Part 1 (unchecked) (Document). SNN56755.

<12> Whellan, 1874, History, Topography & Directory of Northamptonshire, p.118; Copy in NDC SMR File M25; (checked) (Book). SNN1002.

<13> Wetton, 1849, Guidebook to Northampton and its Vicinity, p.48-49 (part checked) (Book). SNN1032.

<14> 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.

<15> Brown A.E. (Editor), 1973, Archaeology in Northamptonshire 1972, 21 (Journal). SNN8956.

<16> Calendar of Close Rolls (undated), 30 Henry III/M.17 (unchecked) (Document). SNN2187.

<17> Calendar of Pipe Rolls, 30 Henry III (unchecked) (Document). SNN3785.

<18> Calendar of Liberate Rolls, 30 Henry III m.15 (unchecked) (Document). SNN3497.

<18> Calendar of Liberate Rolls, 31 Henry III m.11 (unchecked) (Document). SNN3497.

<19> SERJEANTSON R.M., 1910, The Greyfriars of Northampton, 279 (Article). SNN3358.

<20> Calendar of Close Rolls (undated), 11 Edward I/M.5 (unchecked) (Document). SNN2187.

<21> 1973, DOE Archaeological Excavations (Various Years), p.97-99 (checked) (Series). SNN45978.

Record last edited

May 8 2025 8:25PM