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Bridgnorth Friary (in depth)
Bridgnorth Friary
The friary at Bridgnorth is located on the outskirts of what would have once been the poorer side of town on a strip of land on the banks of the River Severn. It was a home to a community of Franciscan monks. Franciscans were also known as ‘Grey Friars’ because of the colour of the habits that they wore.
It is thought that the friary was founded shortly before 1244 when there is a record of the Friary being given 40 shillings by Henry VIII for the building of their church. The friary was built outside of the town wall but in 1247 the friars received permission to move a road from outside of the town ditch to within it. This enabled them to enlarge their site. They later tried to increase the size of the friary site by dumping earth and rubbish into the river, but this led to them being charged with encroachment on the river resulting to damage at the nearby King‘s Mill.
Bridgnorth Friary was dissolved in 1538 and described by the Bishop of Dover, who was carrying out surveys on behalf on King Henry VIII, as the poorest monastery that he had ever seen. At this time the income of the friary was just 10 shillings a year and the buildings were said to be in a severe state of disrepair.
After its dissolution the silver of the friary was taken by the King and one of the bells and the lead stripped from the roof were sold. The buildings that were considered still habitable were put out for let.
Part of the buildings were later converted into a malt-house and up until the 19th century it is said that the refectory (dining room) of the friary remained intact with its oak panelled ceiling and stone fireplace. By the 1820‘s the former friary precinct had become part of a carpet factory. As the factory expanded numerous discoveries were made concerning the friary, including coffins and skeletons that would have once lain in the friary's cemetery.
In the late 1980‘s the carpet factory and any remains of the friary were demolished to make way for new houses and during archaeological excavations human remains were discovered along with part of the original friary buildings.