Blackfriars, Newcastle upon Tyne facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Blackfriars |
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Blackfriars
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| Architectural style(s) | Medieval |
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Listed Building – Grade I
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| Type | English Heritage |
| Designated | 14 June 1954 |
| Reference no. | 1086979 |
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Listed Building – Grade I
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| Type | English Heritage |
| Designated | 14 June 1954 |
| Reference no. | 1087001 |
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Listed Building – Grade I
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| Type | English Heritage |
| Designated | 14 June 1954 |
| Reference no. | 1355267 |
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Blackfriars is a very old building in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. It was once a priory, which is a type of monastery. Built in the 1200s, it's now a special Grade I listed site. This means it's a very important historic building. You can find it in the city centre, near Newcastle's Chinatown.
Contents
What is Blackfriars?
Blackfriars was a priory, a home for a group of religious people called friars. Friars were different from monks. Monks usually lived in quiet monasteries far from towns. Friars, however, lived in towns and cities. They spent their time helping people and teaching. They also lived by begging for food and money.
The friars at Blackfriars belonged to the Dominican group. This order was started by St Dominic in the early 1200s. Dominicans were also known as "Black Friars" because of the black cloaks they wore.
How Blackfriars Started
Blackfriars Priory was founded in 1239. A rich merchant from Newcastle, Sir Peter Scott, helped set it up. The priory was built just inside the city walls of Newcastle. It covered a large area, about seven acres. It also had gardens that helped the friars earn a small income.
In the 1300s, important people visited Blackfriars. For example, in 1334, Edward III of England, who was the King of England, met with Edward Balliol there. Balliol was trying to become the King of Scotland.
Changes Over Time
During the 1500s, big changes happened in England. King Henry VIII decided to close down many religious houses, including monasteries and priories. This event is known as the Dissolution of the Monasteries.
In 1539, Blackfriars Priory was closed. Its land was sold to the city of Newcastle and to wealthy merchants. Parts of the priory, like the church and some of the cloister, were pulled down.
Saved by the Guilds
Luckily, Blackfriars was not completely destroyed. In 1552, the city leaders sold the priory buildings to nine of Newcastle's craft guilds. Guilds were like clubs or associations for people who did the same job, such as tailors or shoemakers. They used the buildings as their meeting places. This is probably why Blackfriars is the only one of Newcastle's old religious houses that still stands today.
The guilds changed the buildings to fit their needs. They added new windows and changed floor levels. The guild members used these rooms for their meetings. Sometimes, people who worked for the guilds or those in need lived in the ground floor rooms for free.
Restoration and Today
Over time, the buildings at Blackfriars became old and damaged. In the 1900s, they were in very bad condition. The city of Newcastle bought Blackfriars in the 1950s.
Between 1973 and 1981, Blackfriars was carefully restored. This means it was repaired and brought back to its former glory.
Blackfriars Now
Today, only the cloister buildings of Blackfriars remain. The cloister was an open courtyard surrounded by covered walkways. The covered walkways are gone, but the courtyard is still there. The old priory church was at one end of the cloister, but it was demolished long ago. You can still see where it used to be in the grassy area.
Now, Blackfriars is a lively place! It has many craft workshops where people make and sell things. There is also a popular restaurant. You can also visit an exhibition that tells the story of Blackfriars. The quiet grassy courtyard is a nice contrast to the busy city life outside.
The Tanners Guild, one of the old craft guilds, still uses a hall at Blackfriars for their meetings. The site is also very close to parts of the medieval town walls that are still standing.
The Dominican friars, who were once at Blackfriars, returned to Newcastle in the 1800s. They built a new priory and church called St Dominic's Priory on New Bridge Street.
