Greyfriars, Winchelsea facts for kids
Greyfriars is a special place in Winchelsea, East Sussex, England. It's like a large country property. Here, you can find the amazing ruins of a very old church and monastery from the Middle Ages. There's also a house built much later, in the 1800s.
History of Greyfriars
The Old Monastery
The first home for a group of monks called the Order of Friars Minor was set up in Winchelsea Old Town by the year 1242. These monks are also known as Franciscans. They are a Christian group who live simply and help others.
The monastery, or "friary," moved to its current spot in 1285. The Franciscans bought about 28 acres of land for their new home. This was in the area where the new town of Winchelsea was being built.
Greyfriars became a very important place. Winchelsea was a busy port city during the Middle Ages. But after the mid-1300s, the friary was used less and less.
In 1538, the friary was sold. This happened during a time called the Dissolution of the Monasteries. This is when King Henry VIII closed down many monasteries in England. By then, Greyfriars was already in bad shape. For many years after, it was used as a barn.
Today, the ruins of Greyfriars are very important. In 1915, it was named a scheduled monument. This means it's a nationally important historical site. It's one of the best examples of Franciscan buildings still standing in England.
What's left of the old monastery includes the full-height choir. This was the part of the church where the monks sang. You can also see parts of the east wall of the north aisle. And a section of the south wall is still there. Around the 1600s, a new doorway was added to the north wall. The church's chancel, built around 1310–1320, has also partly survived.
The Country House
A country house was built at Greyfriars in 1819. Richard Stileman built it in a Gothic style. This means it looked like older medieval buildings, with pointed arches and fancy details. The new house replaced an older building on the same spot.
The house is located on the southern edge of Winchelsea town. It sits right next to the old friary ruins. Later, in the late 1900s, East Sussex County Council owned the house. They used it as a day care center.
In the year 2000, the house was sold to private owners. In 2015, it was put up for sale again for £4.5 million. The house was given a Grade II listing in 1987. This means it's a building of special historical or architectural interest.
