Austin Friary, Bristol facts for kids

Austin Friary was a special kind of monastery in Bristol, England. It was home to a group of Augustinian friars. Friars are like monks, but they often live and work more closely with people in towns.

The friary was started in 1313. A person named Simon de Montecute gave the friars a piece of land. This land was about 100 square feet and was located near the Temple Gate in Bristol. Over the next 30 years, other people like William de Montecute and Thomas of Berkeley also gave land to the friary.

What Was Austin Friary?

Austin Friary was a religious building where Augustinian friars lived. These friars followed the rules of Saint Augustine. They dedicated their lives to prayer and helping the community.

Water for the Friars

The friars needed water for their daily lives. So, they built a special pipe system. This pipe brought water from a reservoir on the west side of the River Avon. The reservoir itself got its water from a spring called Ravenswell. This spring was located in the cliffs near Totterdown.

This water pipe was very important. It continued to supply water to the Temple district of Bristol for many years. People used it all the way up until the 1800s!

The End of the Friary

The Austin Friary did not last forever. In 1538, a big change happened in England. This period was called the Dissolution of the Monasteries. During this time, King Henry VIII closed down many monasteries and friaries across the country.

The leader of the Austin Friary, called the prior, and six other friars had to give up their home. They surrendered the friary, along with its furniture and religious clothes, to a royal official named Richard Yngworth.

What's There Now?

Sadly, none of the original buildings of Austin Friary exist today. The area where it once stood has changed a lot since the 1700s. Today, the site is occupied by the main offices of Bristol & West. This is a commercial bank that is part of the Bank of Ireland.