Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

Grade I listed building. Main construction periods 1200 to 1299 Two Medieval timber-framed buildings, one is 15th century in date, both were altered during the 18th century. In early August 1941 it was proposed that an additional civil-defence mortuary, with accommodation for thirty-four casualties, be established at the old Blackfriars Monastery. This proposal was adopted, and was probably executed.

Summary from record TR 15 NW 79:

Blackfriars Dominican Monastery, founded c. 1236 and dissolved in 1538. The remains consist of a 'frater' on the west side of the river and the guest house on the east side though excavations have discovered the remains of a cloister, church, chapter house and a domestic building.

Monument Types

• FRIARY (Medieval to Modern - 1200 AD to 2050 AD)
• GUEST HOUSE (Medieval to Modern - 1200 AD to 2050 AD)
• CIVIL DEFENCE BUILDING (Modern - 1941 AD? to 1945 AD?)

Full description

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The following text is from the original listed building designation:
ST PETER'S LANE 1. 944 (South East Side) Blackfriars Monastery Guest House TR 1458 SE 2/97B 3.12.49.
I GV
2. The C13 Blackfriars Monastery Guest House is separated by the River Stour from the remainder of the Monastery buildings. 2 storeys flint, patched with red brick. Buttresses with stone quoins. Restored tiled roof. 4 restored trefoil-headed lancet windows. Stone archway. Tie-beam roof.
Forms a group with The former Blackriars Monastry, Blackfriars Street.
Listing NGR: TR1484058083

Description from record TR 15 NW 670:
In early August 1941 it was proposed that an additional civil-defence mortuary, with accommodation for thirty-four casualties, be established at the old Blackfriars Monastery. This proposal was adopted, and was probably executed.
Owner : Private
Publicly accessible : No
How accessed for survey :
Tourism Potential :
Condition : unknown
Date of visit :

Description from record TR 15 NW 79:
[TR 14845808] Remains of [NAT] Dominican Friary [NR] (Black Friars. Founded c1236) [NAT]. (1) Dominican Priory at Canterbury in the visitation of London; first mentioned 1237; dissolved 1538. (2) The remains consist of the 14thc Frater in Blackfriars Street, now the Church of the First Church of Christ Scientist (TR 14865808) and the 13thc Guest House on the opposite side of the River Stour. (TR 14845808). [See plan GP/F/54/82/4.(4)]. (3-4) The remains, as described, are in good condition. The Guest House is now being used as an annexe of the college of Art. GP/AO/65/61/3. (5) Excavations in 1969 and 1970 have revealed the Cloisters, Chapter House, Church, and a domestic building dated c1595. See plan. The church was begun in 1237 and almost completed by 1244; the other buildings appear to have been built by 1260. (6) The former Blackfriars Monastery, Blackfriers Street. (TR 14865807 - sited from HHR map) Grade I. C13 and later. 2 storeys flint faced with stone quoins. Restored tiled roof. Windows on the first floor are 4 double lancets with quatrefoil heads. Stone cills. The ground floor has mostly restored mullions. Porch with steps built on to first floor. Doors are 4 centred arches. The left side has an extension of 2 storeys in red brick of 1763 to 1764 on a stone base. Round-headed or plain casements having leaded lights C18 6 panelled door. The ground floor has an undercroft with stone octagonal-sided columns and brick diagonal ribbed vaulting. Stone floor. Traces of timber framing within the red brick extension. (7)

Dendrochronology dating of the roof of the guesthouse gave a felling date of 1350. (8-9)

The Canterbury UAD mentions that the Guest Hall of the friary lay on a small island between a branch in the river. It was rectangular shaped in plan measuring approximately 60 feet in length E-W, and 30 feet in width N-S with buttresses at each corner and along either side at the eastern end. A drawing by Thomas Langden, dated 1595, shows the building to have been situated next to the gatehouse/gateway, built over two storeys, the lower section being an undercroft with the hall above which was probably open to the roof space. Access to the main friary refectory block would have been via two small bridges over the river. The date of construction of the building is not known but obviously is after 1236-37 when the friary was founded and possibly by 1260 when most of the buildings had been completed, however the roof appears to be of c. 1320 date, and either indicates a later date of construction of the building, or that it was later re-roofed. (10)

The following text is from the original listed building designation:
ST PETER'S LANE 1. 944 (South East Side) Blackfriars Monastery Guest House TR 1458 SE 2/97B 3.12.49.
I GV
2. The C13 Blackfriars Monastery Guest House is separated by the River Stour from the remainder of the Monastery buildings. 2 storeys flint, patched with red brick. Buttresses with stone quoins. Restored tiled roof. 4 restored trefoil-headed lancet windows. Stone archway. Tie-beam roof.
Forms a group with The former Blackriars Monastry, Blackfriars Street.
Listing NGR: TR1484058083 (11)

Canterbury City Council Emergency Committee, 01/01/39, Canterbury City Council Emergency Committee Minute Books 1 to 6 (Unpublished document). SKE14767.

<1> OS 1:2500 1957 (OS Card Reference). SKE48200.

<2> Med Rel Houses Eng and Wales 1953 184 (Knowles and Hadcock) (OS Card Reference). SKE46790.

<3> MHLG (944/11/A Mar 1962) 5 49 (OS Card Reference). SKE47040.

<4> Arch J 86 1930 152-77 285 plans (AR Martin) (OS Card Reference). SKE36726.

<5> F1 FGA 01-FEB-65 (OS Card Reference). SKE42878.

<6> Arch Cant 86 1971 215-9 (L Millard) (OS Card Reference). SKE35847.

<7> DOE (HHR) City of Canterbury Kent Sept 1973 14 (OS Card Reference). SKE40000.

<8> Vernacular Architecture Group, ADS Dendrochronology Database, Vol. 38, Pg.109 (Website). SKE17391.

<9> English Heritage, 2006, The Guesthouse, Blackfriars, St Peter's Lane, Canterbury: Tree-Ring Analysis of Timbers - Scientific Dating Report (Unpublished document). SKE17723.

<10> Millard, L., 1971, 'The Blackfriars, Canterbury', Researches and Discoveries (Article in serial). SKE29731.

<11> English Heritage, List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest (Map). SKE16160.

Sources and further reading

Related records