Monument record 1160/10 - Northampton Blackfriars

The site of the Dominican Friary may lie in the area to the North of Gold Street and East of Horsemarket, although alternative locations have been suggested. Founded by 1233 and dissolved in 1538. In 1275, the friars are recorded as having enclosed a common way from the new cemetery to St Martin Street. Numerous royal and other gifts are recorded. No physical remains are known, neither is the extent of the precinct known. [Three locations are mapped based on sources]

{1} Dominican Friary, probably sited in the area north of Gold Street & east of Horsemarket (centred on SP 75206045?) In 1275 the friars are recorded as enclosing (within the friary?) a common way from the new cemetery (St Katherine's at SP 752605) to St. Martin's Street (now Horsemarket). The friary was established c.1230 and surrendered in 1538. Numerous royal & other gifts to the friary are recorded. No physical remains have been found nor is the extent of the precinct known.

{2} The order of Black Friars, or Dominicans, was founded in C13th. They first settled in the town about 1230 and established themselves in Horsemarket. The early buildings were probably of a temporary nature but in 1233 the Friars erected a more permanent building. Erection of the church started in 1235 and the Refectory in 1236. By 1239 the monastery was near completion. The King had donated wood for use in building, and in 1244 also granted cloth for the habits of the 31 friars in the house. Building operations had been temporarily suspended by 1250 but started again in 1258 and continued steadily. In 1247 friars were anxious to enlarge premises & king gave money to purchase land to enlarge the boundary walls of their church. Spring of flowing water named 'Floxewell' at Kingsthorpe granted to friars by Queen Eleanor in 1279; water was conveyed to their buildings by an underground conduit.

In 1290 land was purchased for the enlargement of the friary & again in 1299-1300 acquired a further plot of land lying to the east. There were 40 friars in the house in 1299-1300. In 1305 friary looted by persons who "broke their close & gates....entered said close felled trees therein & carried them & gates & other goods away"; In 1314 enlarging premises again by acquiring plot of land from Nicholas de Seagrave & another from Andrew de Norfolk & a third from John de Mounceus; all land adjacent to house; in 1349 Black Death devastated friars including famous Robert Holcot [detail of life & works given]; during C15th friary was meeting place of Northampton Guild of Fullers & Hilliers or Tilers Craft also met there; friars surrendered house on October 20th 1538; details of dismantling include features of friary; little siting information given other than possible links with St Martin St.
In 1511 prior grants to Robert & Alice Greneweye that after death of either of them their souls be recommended in convent Chapter House; from demolition king reserved for himself all lead & iron & glass & stone from chapter house, refectory, chapels, bell tower, dormitory, cloister;
Post-Dissolution rental of tenements with gardens & separate garden rentals; rental of one garden with 3 other little gardens; 1544 grant of friary land to William Ransden lists pools, fishpools, fisheries, vineyards & gardens amongst features;

{3} Black Friars or Dominicans or Friars Preachers presence in Northampton sanctioned by Bishop Hugh Wells circa 1230; had frontage onto Horsemarket; building work first noted in 1233 when king granted them timber from Royal Forests; several grants of timber between 1240-46 for building purposes; in 1247 land added to grounds & in 1274 friars were fined for encroachment onto common way; further gifts of timber given throughout late C13th; in 1301 grounds were enlarged by 2 plots of land & further enlargements took place in 1314-1319; in 1358 crown temporarily seized some of this property on basis that friars broken rules of their order & let it to tenants for yearly rents; account of life of friar Robert Holcot; valor of 1535 showed that friary possessed £2 18s 6d in rents with the site;

{4} House of Dominican Friars in Northampton was founded before 1233; there were apparently 40 friars in 1301 & 1306; surrendered in 1538;

{6} Dominicans settled in Northampton circa 1230 & began building in 1233 assisted by royal grants of timber until early C14th; no traces of house are left; was situated on east side of Horsemarket and its precincts came down to Gold Street;

{8} Friars' Preachers or Black Friars or Dominicans were founded circa 1240 by John Dalyngton; house was situated in Horse-Market; revenues only £5.11s.5d. A year;

{9} Up Horse-Market & between Castle-Street & Bath-Street was site of Dominicans or Black Friars or Friars Preachers; settled here before 1240; resigned to crown 20th October 1539 by William Dyckyns prior & 7 friars;

{10}'The Blake Freres in the streate where the horse market is kept ons a weke';

{13}Alternative explanation for the location of the Dominican Friary.The Dominican Friary site extended from Horesmarket eastwards one part touching College Lane, probably north of the College of All Saints, extent uncertain. It probably extended north and south of King Street, but there is no evidence to confirm this. This location for the friary was originally indicated by Henry Lee in 1716.

{14} For 10 years friars had enclosed for themselves common way 6ft wide extending in length from new cemetery to St Martin St to detriment of whole community of Northampton to half mark;

{15} Summary of documentary and secondary evidence for Dominican friary and its land holding.

{16} Number of documents written in late 17th century (1691,1696,1698) relating to King Street Congregational Church refering to land previously on the site of the Black Friars.

{17} Discussion of location of Black Friars site.Traditionally the Black Friars site was west of Horsemarket between Bath Street and Scarletwell Street, however there is evidence that this was in fact the Pilkington mansion (on land acquired either from the Friars Preachers or St Andrew's Priory). Serjeantson's evidence for the site of the friary has been misunderstood (as being between Horsemarket and Gold Street).

{18} {19} Documentary sources tracing the sale of the friary lands and the sale of Pilkington estate lands to different families. The Pilkington estates can be identified as the land to the west of Horsemarket, concluding that the friary could not be sited here.

{?} RCHME siting of Blackfriars on corner of Horsemarket & Gold Street probably relies on incorrect interpretation of property rentals as representing the friary precinct by Serjeantson; the probable siting of the friary is on the west side of Horsemarket & occupying the block of land between Bath St to the north & Castle St to the south; the 1807 map by Roper & Cole identifies this area as "Grey Friars" & probably should have read "Black Friars"; also Wetton states that this was the location of the friary; Horsemarket would have prevented further expansion of the precinct eastwards.

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

<2> SERJEANTSON R.M., 1911, The Black Friars of Northampton, 39-60 (checked) (Article). SNN3020.

<3> Serjeantson R.M.; Ryland W. (Editors), 1906, The Victoria History of the Counties of England: Northamptonshire, p.144-46 (checked) (Series). SNN100369.

<4> Knowles; Hadcock, 1971, Medieval Religious Houses England and Wales, p.214+218 (checked) (Book). SNN10192.

<5> Serjeantson R.M.; Longden Isham H., 1913, The Parish Churches & Religious Houses of Northamptonshire: Their Dedications, Altars etc., 217-452 (unchecked) (Extract). SNN1080.

<6> Page W. (ed), 1930, The Victoria History of the Counties of England: Northamptonshire, p.58 (checked) (Series). SNN100370.

<8> Whellan, 1874, History, Topography & Directory of Northamptonshire, p.117; Handwritten notes in NDC SMR File M24;; (unchecked) (Book). SNN1002.

<9> Wetton, 1849, Guidebook to Northampton and its Vicinity, p.39 (unchecked) (Book). SNN1032.

<10> Hearne T., 1710, Collectanea (Leland J.), p.2-9 (unchecked) (Series). SNN974.

<12> Ordnance Survey, 1950s/1960s, Ordnance Survey Record Cards, SP76SE58 (unchecked) (Index). SNN443.

<13> WELSH T.C., 1998, Document Search: The Dominican Friary, Northampton, (part checked) (Report). SNN46417.

<14> HUNDRED ROLLS, 3 (unchecked) (Document). SNN46919.

<15> WELSH T.C., 1998, The Site of the Dominican Friary, Northampton, (unchecked) (Notes). SNN46951.

<16> Indenture, ACC/96-ACC/98 (unchecked) (Document). SNN46418.

<17> WELSH T.C., 1998, Correspondence, (part checked) (Notes). SNN46419.

<18> Welsh, T., 2003, SMR Report form, (part checked) (SMR Report Form). SNN106951.

<19> Welsh, T., 2003, SMR Report form, (part checked) (SMR Report Form). SNN106952.

<20> Welsh, T., 2010, Document Search: The Dominican Friary, Northampton (Revised version 26th July 2010), (unchecked) (Report). SNN106954.

<21> WELSH T.C., 1998, Document Search: The Dominican Friary, Northampton, p 2-5 (checked) (Report). SNN46417.

Record last edited

Dec 19 2024 2:50PM