Blackfriars, Ladybellegate Street, Gloucester, Gloucestershire
"The Dominicans, or Blackfriars, were brought to Gloucester in 1239 by Sir Stephen de Hermshall. The building of the friary began almost immediately, largely with materials and funds donated by Henry III. It was completed in about 1270 as a home for some forty friars. The friary was closed, along with the larger monasteries, in 1539 during the Dissolution of the monasteries. By this time the number of friars living in Gloucester had fallen to just six and a prior. A local alderman called Thomas Bell bought the Gloucester Blackfriars and converted the church into a mansion and the other buildings into a weaving factory. In the 19th century the west range became a row of terraced houses and the library range was used for bottling. This property is in the care of English Heritage. English Heritage is (2011) undertaking work to bring parts of the building into use as a performing arts centre. Read more.
