Crafty Friar
Sat. 10th March., 2001

In 1239 a Dominican Friary was formed in Newcastle. After the disastrous fire of 1248 the Blackfriars Friary was built on the present site. Three sides of the Friary still exist, but the church that formed the fourth, and most impressive side was demolished.

King Henry VIII ordered the dissolution of the Friary and the destruction of the church in 1543. The other buildings were handed to the town Guilds and were split into smaller units.

This picture shows the only part of the church to remain above ground. This door post and arch portion was part of the South entrance.

When the guilds took over they modified the building, adding new entrances and stairways, and partitions to divide the large refectory and dormitory buildings.

The Mayor and Burgesses of Newcastle leased the domestic buildings to the city's nine Craft Guilds; Cordwainers, Smiths, Fullers & Dyers, Tanners, Brewers & Bakers, Saddlers, Butchers, Tailors and Skinners & Glovers.

Each group required separate and closed premises for meetings, business, and workshops.

Here the Cordwainers have made their mark on the old kitchen doorway to the west outer wall on the south side.

This part of the west cloister shows a couple of interesting features. Above the door black corbel stones show the position of supports for a canopy that extended around the whole quadrangle. That thin line of stones higher up show the junction of the old sloping roof.

Above that a line of small filled in windows show us that the height of the upper storey has been increased. Note also the differing brick size above the old windows. This indicates an 18th century addition. Often the brick size and method of bricklaying can give a clue to the period.

Here is the inside of the southern range. When the Guilds took over this refectory was split into three, and firelaces and chimneys added. The monks had only one "warming room".

The refectory was on the lower floor; the famed but sadly destroyed library was above. Since the area above the refectory has been altered several times since 1600 the library layout can only be conjecture.

Here is the Lavatorium. This was where the friars stood to wash their hands before entering the refectory.

It would have been filled with water from the friars' well. In 1263, the King of England allowed the friars to construct an aqueduct to enable them to have access to a constant supply of fresh water.

You can see the corbels protruding from the wall above and around the lavatorium, showing where the cloister canopy rose to accommodate its height.

Since its restoration during the 1970s Blackfriars has been the home for craft workshops and sale rooms. During summer Sundays the square rings to merry crowds and outdoor stalls.

During the Dominican occupation this side was the Prior's accommodation and guest quarters.

The middle section here shows 18th century alteration, the nearer part retains the original stonework

So, since the most recent restoration, the buildings are alive and useful, and have not been turned into a theme park or museum.

Blackfriars has been linked with artisans since Henry VIII vented his anger at the Roman Catholic Church and ousted the sadistic cruel Dominicans.

It is good to see that its more accessible and peaceful use continues, although the destruction of the church building is regrettable. Its walls were shored up and the foundations dug away so that it would collapse inward. The materials were then sold for other local building works and that which remained was crumbled to dust so that even the memory of its existence should vanish.

This quiet oasis of tranquility is worth a visit if you call into Newcastle, although not quite on the same New Age trail as Glastonbury.