Monument record 1160/10/1 - Blackfriars Church

NB Mapping shows three possible site of friary, taken from sources

{1} Details of bequeathals includes burials within church & mentions donations toward building of church steeple & chancel;

{2} In 1235 king granted 15 oaks from Salcey Forest for building of church; in 1243 church was enlarged & provided with shingles from Salcey & Whittlebury Forests; this was followed by further building in 1245; in 1249 church once again being enlarged or repaired; in 1278 & 1279 further grants from king of oaks from Hanley & Salcey & Whittlewood for fabric of church; still working on church in 1286 when oaks granted from Geddington Forest; further grant of timber from Hanley for completion of choir of church; this construction necessitated purchase of further land; in 1310 Bishop of Lincoln granted 6 super-altars dedicated in conventual church; in 1536 Mary Middleton requested her body buried next to Robert Holcot in Blackfriar's church; Dame Gyllys Fielding & husband also interred in C16th; church was demolished shortly after Dissolution; from demolition king reserved for himself all lead & iron & glass & stone from church;

{3} Friar Robert Holcot buried in church of Blackfriars in Northampton;

{4} In 1235 timber was granted for church from Salcey Forest; gifts of timber for church continued; 1244 20 oaks from Salcey & 4 from Whittlewood & 10 cut into shingles for roofing; 1245 20 oaks from Slacey or Silverstone for roofing; in 1246 gift of 100s. for buying shingles to roof church; church was enlarged & in 1249 king granted 30 oaks for roofing shingles; in 1278 6 oaks given for fabric of church & again in 1286 for the choir; burials within conventual church included Robert Holcot (1349) & Sir Everard Fielding (1515) & Dame Gyllys Fielding (1529) & Mary Middleton (1536); light that burnt before altar of church maintained by gild of tylers' craft;

{5} In 1310 friars obtained license from bishop to have six superalters in their church;

{6} Enlargement of friary church necessitated purchase of plot of land & breach of Mortmain laws; accordingly royal licence granted to retain in Mortmain messuage which Geoffrey Thiard lately granted them for enlargement of church; another licence granted at same time permitting purchase of second piece of land from Ralph & Agnes Doget;

<1> Serjeantson R.M.; Longden Isham H., 1913, The Parish Churches & Religious Houses of Northamptonshire: Their Dedications, Altars etc., p.230-31 (checked); Copy in NDC SMR File M24; (Extract). SNN1080.

<2> SERJEANTSON R.M., 1911, The Black Friars of Northampton, 40-60 (checked) (Article). SNN3020.

<3> Hearne T., 1710, Collectanea (Leland J.), (unchecked) (Series). SNN974.

<4> Serjeantson R.M.; Ryland W. (Editors), 1906, The Victoria History of the Counties of England: Northamptonshire, p.144-46 (checked) (Series). SNN100369.

<5> Page W. (ed), 1930, The Victoria History of the Counties of England: Northamptonshire, p.58 (checked) (Series). SNN100370.

<6> Calendar of Patent Rolls (undated), 19 Edward I m.16 (unchecked) (Document). SNN978.

Record last edited

Jul 28 2010 2:09PM