Blackfriars Church And Part Of East Range Of Friary

consecrated 1284

The remains of the church of the Dominican (Blackfriars) friary, consecrated in 1284. Following the dissolution, it was purchased by a wealthy draper, Sir Thomas Bell, who converted it into a house. Grade I listed - see www.historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1245989.

© Ian Capper

late C14 alterations principally to church.

from c1960 an Ancient Monument in the care of the Ministry of Works and successor government departments with the implementation of a programme of conservation continued since 1964 by English Heritage for public display and use of the building.

Friary buildings of stone rubble with dressed stone features, added structure in ashlar for conversion to house, roofs relaid c1970 in plain tile, with stone slate verges to the roofs of the former church.

In C16 conversion to house the former chancel and nave were truncated and closed by gable-end walls with central projecting chimney-stacks

Looking west from the chancel. Both chancel and nave were much shortened as part of its conversion to a dwelling by Sir Thomas Bell in the mid 16th century, with intermediate floors also being added, as shown by the fireplaces on the end wall. The original fabric of the church dates from the 13th – this includes the roof trusses - and 14th centuries. Listed Grade I.

© Alan Murray-Rust

In mid C20, following the removal of internal post-medieval features, the south side of the former crossing was closed by a glazed, steel frame screen, c1970.

EXTERIOR: the north side of the church remodelled 1540-45 as the main front of the house and altered in late C18 when the house was divided into two dwellings

the infill in the former C14 large gable-end window is pierced for late C18 sashes, three sashes to each of the former two floors and one lighting the former attic, all of similar size and framed in mahogany with glazing bars (3x4 panes) and a trefoiled head to each pane, the window openings now blocked internally

in the north wall of the wing a reset C14 three-light window with restored tracery.

INTERIOR: since 1960 all post medieval floors and partitions removed to expose the proportions of the church and surviving medieval features.

These include portions of the moulded C14 crossing piers, C14 flying arches in the west wall of the north transept, and in the east bay of the north arcade of the nave an arch inserted to support the north-west pier of the crossing when the former central tower was rebuilt

remains of C13 piers in the nave are largely concealed by C16 infill

in the chancel evidence of C13 arcading originally framing lancet windows above a continuous string course on the north wall and on part of the south wall.

The C16 walls blocking the truncated ends of the former nave and chancel retain moulded chimney pieces at the former ground and first-floor levels of the house, on either side on each floor, mullioned windows with arched heads to the lights.

Above the nave and chancel is a remarkable surviving example of an open timber roof with C13, close-set scissor trusses.

The north end of the east range has doors and windows of various dates and C13 timber scissor trusses in the open roof.

Scheduled Ancient Monument in guardianship since 1960.