Greyfriars, Canterbury

The Order of Friars Minor or ‘Greyfriars’[1] were so named because their habit was of grey cloth with the traditional belt of rope with three knots symbolising their vows of poverty, chastity and obedience.

[2] In 1498 the Canterbury house was formally confirmed as a Province of the newly established Observant Franciscans, a reformed, more rigorous branch of the order introduced to England in the previous decade.

In December 1538, the Bishop of Dover, Richard Yngworth (or Ingworth), received in the King's name the surrender of all the Canterbury friaries with their lands and property.

[3] Elements still visible above ground include the surviving 13th century building spanning the river (variously interpreted as a guest house or warden's lodging, and known as the Greyfriars Chapel today); the remnants of the friary church incorporated into the eastern boundary of the Franciscan Gardens site; and part of a stone bridge across the main river channel, along with the stone revetments upstream of it.

The next owner, Thomas Rolfe, made considerable alterations to the land, and on his death bequeathed his estate to the executors of his will, William Lovelace (MP) and John Dudley.

It is believed that one room of the guesthouse building, now Greyfriars Chapel, was used as a temporary prison cell in the late eighteenth century for inmates due for transportation.

This was modernised by Dr John Burgon Bickersteth and Harry Jackman QC in the mid-twentieth century, developing the upper rooms into a vestry and chapel.