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Greyfriars, Gloucester

Travel Information and nearby accommodation

Greyfriars is the partial remain of an early Tudor friary church of the Franciscan order of monks. The Franciscans were often called 'Grey Friars' due to the colour of their robes.

Greyfriars was founded in 1231 following a gift of land by Lord Berkeley (see Berkeley Castle). Henry III also gave support to Greyfriars in the form of oak trees from the royal Forest of Dean, used in the construction of the monastic buildings. Henry, who was crowned in Gloucester, also supported the building of Blackfriars and Whitefriars in the city.

Greyfriars supported 40 mendicant monks. That is, the monks had all taken vows of poverty, and thus supported themselves by begging. In 1285 the monks argued with neighbouring St Peter's Abbey over rights to a shared water supply. The squabble was eventually settled by Edward, the Black Prince, who decided in favour of Greyfriars.

The friary church was rebuilt in 1518, once more with the aide of the Berkeley family. It is this church which forms the majority of the buildings which we can see today.

The friary dwindled in importance in the late medieval period, and by the time it was dissolved in 1538 there were only five friars left.

Afte the Dissolution the friary church became a brewery. The buildings were heavily damaged in the siege of Gloucester during the Civil War. For a time parts of the buildings served as a dwelling house, a boarding house for seamen, shops, and a library.

The monastic church is now in the care of English Heritage, and the site is open at any time.
Greyfriars Walk, Gloucester, Gloucestershire, England

About Greyfriars, Gloucester
Attraction Type: Abbey
Location: Open access site.
Website: Greyfriars, Gloucester
English Heritage
Location map
OS SO830186
Heritage Rating:   ?

Nearest attractions Nearest Towns and Villages Nearest accommodation Nearest Tourist Information Centre

OS map Related Information

Nearest Attractions Gloucester Cathedral - 0.1 miles (Cathedral) Blackfriars, Gloucester - 0.2 miles (Abbey) National Waterways Museum - 0.3 miles (Museum) Ashleworth Tithe Barn - 4.1 miles (Historic Property) Ashleworth, St Andrew and Bartholomew - 4.1 miles (Church) Great Witcombe Roman Villa - 4.9 miles (Roman) Hardwicke Court - 5 miles (Historic House) Painswick Rococo Garden - 5.5 miles (Garden)

Nearest Towns and Villages Ashleworth - 4.7 miles away Painswick - 5.9 miles away Randwick - 7.4 miles away Cheltenham - 7.9 miles away Elkstone - 9.3 miles away Tewkesbury - 10.1 miles away Chalford - 10.6 miles away Bredon - 12.5 miles away

Nearest Accommodation to Greyfriars, Gloucester

Nearest Self Catering Cottages

Slad Farm - 7.1 miles from Greyfriars, Gloucester Corse Lawn, Gloucestershire Sleeps: 5 Stay from: £295

Shire Horse Cottage - 7.4 miles from Greyfriars, Gloucester Eldersfield, Gloucestershire Sleeps: 6 Stay from: £439

Harvest, Shire & Cider Apple - 7.4 miles from Greyfriars, Gloucester Eldersfield, Gloucestershire Sleeps: 16 Stay from: £1243

More Self Catering near Greyfriars, Gloucester

Nearest Hotels

New County Hotel - 0.1 miles from Greyfriars, Gloucester Gloucester, Gloucestershire Stay from: £50.00

Station Hotel - 0.4 miles from Greyfriars, Gloucester Gloucester, Gloucestershire Stay from: £31.00

New Inn Hotel - 0.4 miles from Greyfriars, Gloucester Gloucester, Gloucestershire Stay from: £41.00

More Hotels near Greyfriars, Gloucester

Nearest Bed and Breakfasts

The Edward Hotel - 0.7 miles from Greyfriars, Gloucester Gloucester, Gloucestershire From: £100.00

The Bristol - 1 miles from Greyfriars, Gloucester Gloucester, Gloucestershire From: £30.00

The Dark Cottages & Lodge - 4.3 miles from Greyfriars, Gloucester Gloucester, Gloucestershire From: £100.00

More bed and breakfasts near Greyfriars, Gloucester

Gloucester
Tourist Information Centre
28 Southgate Street
Gloucester
Gloucestershire
England
GL1 2DP
Tel: 01452 396 572
Alternate Tel: 01452 396 576
Fax: 01452 504 273
Email: tourism@gloucester.gov.uk
Web: http://www.gloucester.gov.uk/tourism
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