Ipswich Greyfriars facts for kids
Ipswich Greyfriars was a monastery in Ipswich, Suffolk, where Franciscans (also known as Friars Minor or Grey Friars) lived. It was founded a long time ago, in the 1200s. People often say Sir Robert Tibetot started it, but it was likely built even earlier, before 1236. This makes it the oldest house of friars in Suffolk, built only about ten years after St Francis died. The Greyfriars monastery was active until the late 1530s when it was closed down.
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Some parts of the monastery buildings might have lasted until the 1600s. But by the early 1800s, almost nothing was left. Today, you can hardly see any original parts. A few small pieces are now part of modern buildings. The monastery used to be near St Nicholas's church, Prince's Street, and Franciscan Way. It was across from the Willis Faber building, close to where the River Gipping flows into the River Orwell.
We don't have as many records about the Greyfriars as we do for other monasteries in Ipswich, like the Ipswich Blackfriars (Dominicans) or the Ipswich Whitefriars (Carmelites). However, we know it was important because of its connection to the Tibetot family. This family, who were Barons, were thought to be the founders. Many members of the Tiptoft family and other important people were buried there. Later, the Wentworth family became the main supporters of the monastery.
Even today, the area is called "Greyfriars." But most people think of a shopping center that was built there in 1965–66 (and later torn down). The Ipswich Tax Office is also nearby. Archaeologists dug up parts of the site in 1990, and again in 2002 and 2006. They also studied old documents about the area.
Contents
Who Supported the Greyfriars?
The Tibetot Family
Historians like John Speed (1614) and John Weever (1631) wrote about the Greyfriars. They mentioned "Robert Tilbot" or "Lord Tiptoth" as the founder. Weever also noted that the earliest tomb he saw there was for Sir Robert de Tiptoth and his wife, "Una."
Sir Robert de Tibetot came from a family linked to Bramford near Ipswich. He became a trusted helper to King Henry III and later to Prince Edward. He even went with Prince Edward on a Crusade to the Holy Land. The King gave him special permission in 1270. If Sir Robert didn't return, his son Payn de Tibetot would be taken care of.
King Edward I made Sir Robert governor of Nottingham Castle in 1275. He also helped make peace with Owain Goch ap Gruffydd in 1277. Later, he was a judge in South Wales and governor of Carmarthen and Cardigan Castles. In 1291, he defeated a revolt led by Rhys ap Maredudd. Sir Robert also went with the King to Gascony. He fought in Scotland in 1297 and died the next year. He left many lands to his son and two daughters.
From Tibetot to Wentworth Families
More important people were buried at Greyfriars. The heart of Robert de Vere, 5th Earl of Oxford, was buried there in 1296. Also, the tomb of Margaret Mortimer, wife of the younger Robert de Vere, 6th Earl of Oxford, was in the same church.
Payn de Tibetot, Sir Robert's son, was 19 when his father died. He married Agnes, daughter of William de Ros. Payn fought in many wars, mostly in Scotland. He was called to Parliament as a Baron between 1307 and 1314. He died in the Battle of Bannockburn in 1314.
His son, John Tibetot, was only one year old when Payn died. John later became the 2nd Baron Tibetot. He married Margaret Badlesmere. Her older sister was married to the 7th Earl of Oxford. This shows why the De Vere family was also buried at Greyfriars. Weever also recorded that Margaret Badlesmere, John Tibetot's wife, was buried there. There were also graves for Sir Thomas Tibetot and Robert Tibetot.
In 1319, Robert of Fornham left two properties to the Greyfriars in his will. King Edward III gave protection to the Greyfriars in 1328 and 1331. Sir Nicholas Fraunceys gave them land to make their home bigger in 1332. The friars were also forgiven for two other land gifts they received without permission. One of these was from Sir William de Cleydon. Weever noted the monument of John, son of William Cleydon, in the Greyfriars church. John died in 1333 and owned many lands around Ipswich.
Elizabeth, daughter of Thomas de Beauchamp and wife of Sir Thomas Ufford, was buried here. They both died around 1369. Weever also reported the burials of Dame Margery, Elizabeth Ufford, and the heart of Petronilla Ufford. The Ufford family connection came from Maud de Chaworth. She married Sir Ralph de Ufford, who was a judge in Ireland. Maud later showed special care for the friars minor. In 1356, she arranged for gifts to be given to the Ipswich Greyfriars when one of her priests died.
The Tibetot family memorials continued with Elizabeth, Lady Despencer. She was the daughter of Sir Robert Tiptoft, the 3rd Baron. Elizabeth was the wife of Philip le Despencer the younger. Three of their children were also buried with her. Their daughter, Margery le Despencer, married Roger Wentworth. This is how the support for the Greyfriars passed from the Tiptoft family to the Wentworth family.
The main supporter of the Greyfriars then became Thomas Wentworth. He was created the 1st Baron Wentworth in 1529. He talked with Thomas Cromwell in 1538 about the friary's condition and its future.
Other Early Burials
Weever also mentioned other important tombs in the Greyfriars church. He wrote about "Sir Hugh Peach and Sir Hugh Peach," likely a father and son with the same name. They were important figures in the area. Their tombs date back to the same time as Sir Robert de Tibetot's.
The tomb of Dame Alice de Holebrok was also there. She was likely the wife of John de Holebrok, who died in 1311. They owned many lands in Suffolk near Ipswich.
The Final Years
Lord Curson's Burial
The last important person buried at Greyfriars was Sir Robert, Lord Curson (c.1460-1535). He was a very important person in Ipswich during the early Tudor period. Curson was knighted in 1489 and was the Sheriff of Norfolk and Suffolk in 1496–97. He fought against the Turks in 1499.
Curson was against the Lollards, a religious group. He was present when Nicholas Peke, a Lollard, was executed in Ipswich in 1515. Curson also wrote about the "Ipswich Miracle." This event brought Katherine of Aragon and later King Henry to Ipswich. They stayed in Curson's house.
Curson's large house was very close to the home of Thomas Wolsey's father. It was also next to the Priory of St Peter and St Paul. Wolsey used the site of this priory to build his Collegiate School of St Mary at Ipswich. This school overlooked the river, just below Stoke Bridge. The Greyfriars monastery was above the bridge.
Curson asked to be buried at the Greyfriars in his will. Although Weever didn't list his tomb, other records show it existed. For example, the friary's inventory during its closure mentioned silk pillows of Lady Curson and a special cloth that lay on "the lorde Cursons herse." A "hearse" here means a metal frame over a tomb. After the Greyfriars closed, Curson's tomb was moved to St Peter's church. This is why Weever didn't see it at Greyfriars.
Lord Wentworth's Involvement
On April 1, 1538, Lord Wentworth wrote to Thomas Cromwell about the Greyfriars. The monastery still had friars living there, but it was in serious financial trouble. Lord Wentworth called himself the "founder in blood," meaning he was the hereditary supporter of the monastery. He explained that people in Ipswich were giving their money to other causes instead of to this "nest of drones."
The Warden of the friary told Wentworth that they had to sell their valuable items, like plates and jewelry, just to survive. Wentworth said he had bought the monastery's site and gardens for himself. He believed the Franciscan order was not from God but was a "hypocritical weed." He asked for the King to grant him the house.
A week later, Richard Yngworth, who was in charge of closing friaries, made a list of the Greyfriars' goods. Most of them were old. He moved all but the most basic items to the Ipswich Blackfriars. He also got back church items that had been sold, including valuable plates that were given to Lord Wentworth as a pledge. The exact date the friary closed is not known, but these events marked its end.
