Newcastle-under-Lyme Friary facts for kids
| Monastery information | |
|---|---|
| Other names | The Dominican Friars of Newcastle-under-Lyme |
| Order | Dominican |
| Established | 13th Century |
| Disestablished | 1538 |
| Site | |
| Location | Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire, England |
The Newcastle-under-Lyme Friary was a special religious home for Dominican friars. These friars were like monks, but they often lived and worked among people in towns. The friary was located in Newcastle-under-Lyme, a town in Staffordshire, England. It was built sometime in the 1200s.
This friary was given to the King of England in 1538. This happened during a time called the Dissolution of the Monasteries. This was when King Henry VIII closed down many religious houses across England.
Contents
History of the Friary
When Was the Friary Built?
We don't know the exact date the friary was started. But we know it was definitely there by July 1277. Records from that time show that King Edward I sent money to the friars. He was staying nearby and sent them 6 shillings and 8 pence for food.
Early Gifts and Support
The friary received some important gifts when it was new. In 1280, a local noble, Nicholas de Audley, left the friars £8 8s 6d in his will. This was a lot of money back then!
Also, Eleanor of Provence, who was the wife of King Henry III, gave them £5. These gifts helped the friars in their early years.
Support from Dukes
Between 1351 and 1361, Henry of Grosmont, 1st Duke of Lancaster, helped the friars. His family, the Duchy of Lancaster, owned the land where the friary was. He stopped making the friars pay their yearly rent of 3 shillings and 9 pence. He also gave them more land to make their home bigger.
This gift was confirmed by John of Gaunt in 1363. Later, King Henry IV, who was also the Duke of Lancaster, confirmed it again in 1404. Even though they had strong ties to the powerful Lancastrian family, there is no sign the friars got involved in politics during the Wars of the Roses.
The Friary Closes Down
In 1538, the friary was closed by the King. This was part of the Dissolution of the Monasteries. At this time, King Henry VIII was taking control of religious houses across England.
The friary was in bad shape when it closed. A bishop named Richard Ingworth described it as "all in ruin." He said the church roof was lead, but the cloister (a covered walkway) lead was "ready to fall down." The rest of the roofs were made of slate and shingle.
The friary only received about 40 shillings in rent each year. It also owed £14 in debts. An inventory, which is a list of everything they owned, showed how poor the friary was. Most of their items were old or not very good quality.
After the friary closed, its goods were sold. The sale brought in £3 11s 2d for their belongings. Building materials sold for £7 6s 8d, and the lead from the roofs sold for 12s 4d. Most of the friary's property was then rented out to local landowners.
