Blackfriars Priory

Gloucester

Located in the heart of Gloucester City, close to the historic Docks, the Gloucester Blackfriars was founded in 1239 on a site that had once been part of the Norman Castle.

The buildings were originally arranged in a way that would have resembled a small monastery. They were in a quadrangle plan around a courtyard measuring approximately 80ft square, enclosed by the church on the North side.

Another important feature of the site is the first floor of the South Range. It is said to have ‘outstanding significance’ as it is the only building in England to demonstrate the construction by the friars of how they made their houses centres of study and training. The South Range survives largely intact.

 In the early sixteenth century, the house was in decline. It had once house thirty to forty friars and was now reduced to a prior and a sixth brethren living in poverty at the time of the dissolution. It was later bought by Sir Thomas Bell, who was the Mayor of Gloucester and a wealthy cappier and clothier. He bought the property for £240.00 and remodelled the church into a private house, with other buildings being converted into a cloth manufactory providing employment for over 300 people.

Today, Blackfriars Priory is a multi-award winning hub of activity in Gloucester and a magnificent blend of ancient and modern architecture, offering a varied events programme and private event hire for weddings, parties and more. The site is open as a visitor attraction on Sundays, Mondays and Tuesdays between 10am and 3pm all year-round. Why not pop in and spend some time exploring the centuries of history, or soak up some sun in the private cloister garden. Our friendly international award-winning team are on-hand if you have any questions during your visit.