The following Notes are from the Archæolog. Journal:—
“The traditions of the Dominican order required that the buildings should be arranged quadrilaterally, enclosing a plot of ground which formed the cloistral cemetery for the deceased of the community, one side being occupied by the church; but no fixed rule was adopted for the distribution of the offices. This is apparent from the plans of several of the English priories founded within the same period of twenty years. At Gloucester, Bristol, and Stamford, the church formed the north side of the quadrangle, whilst at Norwich and Canterbury it was on the south, and at Newcastle-on-Tyne it was on the east, being probably regulated by the conveniences of the localities; and even orientation was not uniformly preserved. The culinary offices at Gloucester were evidently on the south, whilst at Canterbury they stood on the west.
The early Dominican churches were exceeding simple in arrangement and severe in details. A good example of them existed at Canterbury where the choir, nave, and two aisles were all included under one long unbroken roof, and a porch at the west end afforded entrance to the congregation. The church at Gloucester, consisting of choir, nave, north chapel or transept, and north aisle, being rebuilt about the beginning of the sixteenth century, departed somewhat from this plan, inasmuch as the chapel was covered with a distinct transverse roof. It occupied only about three-fourths of the side of the quadrangle, the rest being completed by monastic buildings. In the church were three altars; the steeple with two bells and the aisle have disappeared.
The rest of the buildings which complete the quadrangle, about 73 feet square, are doubtless the original structures of the thirteenth century. The dormitory forming the second storey of the south side, with its exterior stairs, is still perfect, even to the stone partitions of the separate cells. On the ground floor was probably the refectory. The triplet window in the south gable of the west building is deserving of notice. But the interiors of all these buildings have been so much changed and adapted for modern requirements, that it is difficult to ascertain their monastic destinations. The cellaring is extensive, but presents little worthy of remark.”
BLACKFRIARS PRIORY
(Survey made ante 1552)
[A Document of the Loseley MSS. at Loseley Hall, Guildford]
Blakfryer Survey.23
Sm̃⁓xlvi li vjs viijd vlt̃ . xiij li vjs. xiijd. de redditibz woodman & vlt̃ xx li de redd Saunders in toto⁓lxxix li. xiijs. iiijd.
Itm A gallery oũ24 the water cominge owt of the townedyche at Holborne runynge into the temys abuttynge vpon the highe waye leadinge from brydwell to the watersyd on the west syd and vpon the tenemente of James la forheye on the est syd conteyninge that waye in lengethe xlij fote and abuttinge vpon A payre of stayers and waye leadinge from the blackfryers to bryd well oư25 the seid diche on the northe syde and vpon the seide dyche runynge in to the temys on ye sothe syde conteyninge in breddethe that wage xiiij fote.
Itm James la fforher broderer holdeth one tenemente abutinge vpon the seid highe waye on the northe parte & vpon A garden therto adioyninge vpon the sothe syde conteyninge in bredethe that waye xiiij fote and abutt vpon the aforseide gallery on the weste syd and vpon the tenemente of John Taylor on the est syd conteynynge in length that waye xxxj fote wt A garden adioyninge to the same tenemente on the northe syd and upon A garden And howse of ... 26 More or Creswell on the sothe syd conteynunge that waye at the west end abuttinge vpon the seide dyche xxiiij fote and at the est end abuttinge vpon the garden of the seide tenement of John Taylor xxxj foote and in lenge from the east ende to the weste end on the sowthe syde xxix ffoote and on the northe syd xxxj ffoote payinge therefore by year ... lxvjs. viijd.
John Taylor Carpenter holdeth a tenemente Abuttinge vpon the tenemente of James la fforheys on the weste syde and vpon the tenemente of Robt Damanye on the easte syde conteyninge that waye in lengthe xxx ffote and upon A garden thereto belonginge on the sowthe syde and vpon the seid highewaye on the northe syd conteyninge in breddethe that waye xiiij foote wt A garden to the seid tenemente adioyninge on the northe syd and upon A garden of ... Mr. Creswells on the sowthe syd conteyninge in breddethe that waye att the weste ende xxxj fote and at the eeste ende xlv ffoote & abuttinge v[p]on the garden of the tenemente of James la fforhaye on the west syde & vpon the garden of the tenement of Robt Damany on the este syd cont̃ in breddethe yt waye at the northe end xxx ffoot and at the sowthe ende xxx ffoote payinge ... lxvjs. xiijd.
Robt Damany bokebynder holdethe A tenemente abutt on the seid highwaye on the northe syde Conteynynge in lengethe xxiiij foote and vpon A garden to the same belonginge on the sothe syde Conteyninge in lengethe xvij ffote and on the weste syd vpon the seide highe waye vidz27 from the highwaye to the tenement28 of John Tayler x foote and upon the seide tenemente of John tayler xiiij ffoo beinge in the hole breddethe at that the weste ende xxiiij foote and abuttynge on the este syde vpon A tenemente in the tenure of Maryan Turner in breddethe xiiij ffoote and vpon the garden of the tenement of the seide Maryan in breddethe x foote beinge in the hole breddethe at yl easte ende xxiiij ffoote w29 A garden therto adioyninge on the northe syde conteyne in lengethe xvij fote and on the sowthe syde vpon A garden f30 Mr. Creswel xvij ffoote &c. on the weste syde vpon J. Taylers garden coñ xlv ffoote and on the easte syde vpon the gardens of the tenementes of Thomas Gemyny and ... coñ lte31 ffoote payinge therefore ... lxvjs. viijd.
Maryan Turner ffounder holdethe A Tenemente abuttinge vpon the seid highewaye on the Northe syde and coñ in lengethe that waye xl foote and on the sowthe syd vpon a garden plott to the same tenement belonginge & coñ xix foote and vpon A garden of the tenemente of Nicholas ...32 sadler cont xiiij fote and vpon the tenement of Robt Damanye vij ffoote in the hole on that syde xlte ffoote abutinge on the weste syde vpon the tenement of Robt Damanye & coñ xiiij ffote and on the easte syd vpon the garden of the tenement of Nicholas ... sadler iij foote and vpon the tenemente of John de Horse hatmaker xj foote in the hole at that ende xiiij foote. / wt A garden therto adioynynge on the northe syde & coñ xix ffoote and abuttinge vpon the garden of the tenement of ... Taylor on the sowthe syde & coñ xix foote and vpon the tenem̃ of Robt Damany on the weste syde coñ x ffoote and vpon the garden of the tenement of Nicholas ... the sadler on the easte syde coñ ix ffoote. / payinge therefore ad ijos Ai Diuios33—— lxvjs. viijd. John de Horse hattmaker holdethe A tenement abuttinge on the northe syde vpon the seide highewaye cont xxxj ffoote &c. / on the sowthe syd vpon A tenement of Nicholas ... sadler coñ xviij ffoote and vpon the garden of the tenement of the seide Nicholas xiiij f. in the hole on that syde xxxij ffoote. / abuttd on the weste vpon the tenement of Maryan turner coñ xi ffoote & vpon an highewaye leadynge from Ludgate to the bridge of the blacke ffryers on the easte syde coñ xj ffoote payinge therefore by yeare ad ijos Ai diuinos ... lxs.
N̶i̶c̶h̶o̶l̶a̶s̶ ̶ ̶S̶a̶d̶l̶e̶r̶ [erased thus in the MS.].
A bridge and Stayers on the towne diche comynge ffrom Holborne bride34 and forby Brydewell into the temys abuttyng weste vpon the highewaye leadinge forby brydewell to the temys coñ x fote brode abuttinge sothe and northe vpon the seid diche coñ on eache syde xxxix ffote. / wt A lane leadinge ffrom the seide bridge to the highwaye leadinge from ludgate to the black ffryers bridge and abutt ˜ easte upon yt highewaye coñ ... ffoote and abutt weste vpon the seide bridge of bridewell coñ xij ffoote abutt sothe vpon all the seide tenemente of James la fforhaye John Tayler Robt Damany, Maryan Turner and John de horse. / and abutt northe vpon ... coñ in lengethe from the easte to the weste Clii foote pased in lv pace. /
Itm the same lane is betwene brydewell bridge and the tenement of J Damany xix foote brode and lij ffoote longe and betwene yt tenement and the highe waye leading to the blackfryers bridg x ffoote brode and Ci35 ffoote longe.
Nicholas ... Sadler holdethe A tenemente abuttinge easte vpon an highe waye leadinge from Ludgate to the bridge of the blacke fryers coñ xv ffoote / abuttinge weste vpon A garden belongynge to the same tenemente coñ xiij foote / abuttinge northe vpon the tenemente of John de horse coñ xviij foote and sothe vpon the tenent of Edward Charratt Tayler coñ xxviij ffoote wt A garden therto belongynge abutt̃ easte vpon thys seid tenemente coñ xiij foote / weste vpon the garden of the tenement of Maryan turner coñ x ffoote sowthe vpon the garden of the tenemt of Edwrd Charrat tayler coñ xij ffoote / and northe vpon the tenement of Maryan turner coñ xij foote ... lxvj s. viij d.
Edward Sharratt Tayler holdeth A tenement abuttynge easte upon the high waye leadinge from ludgate to bridge of ye blackffryers coñ xxx ffoote / weste upon A garden belonginge to the same tenemente coñ xxx ffoote Sowthe vpon the tenement Thomas Gemeny coñ xxxv ffoote and northe vpon the tenement of Nicholas ... con xxviij ffoote wt A garden th to adjoininge & abuttinge easte coñ xxxt ffoote. / weste vpon the garden of the tenement of Robt Damany coñ xxv fote / Northe vpon the gardens of the tenemente of Maryan turner xviij ffoote and Nicholas his garden xiij fote in the hole on that syd xxxj fote and Sowthe vpon the garden of the tenement of Thomas gemeny coñ xxiiij ffoot‘ payinge vjli xiijs. iiijd.
Thomas Gemeny printer holdethe A tenemente Abuttinge easte vpon the seid highewaye to the blackefryers bridge & coñ xxxiii ffoote and weste vpon A garden to the same belongynge con xxx ffoote / Northe vpon the tenemente of Edward Sharrat tayler coñ xxxvts foote / and Sowthe vpon A garden of Mr. More or Mr. Cresswell coñ xxviij ffoote. / wt A garden thereto adioyninge and abutt easte coñ xxx ffoote weste vpon ye garden of ye tenement of Rbt Damany coñ xxviij ffoote. / Northe vpon the garden of the tenemente of Edward Charrat tayler coñ xxiiij ffoote and sothe vpon A garden of one Mr. More or Mr. Cresswell coñ xxviij ffoote payinge vjli xiijs. iiijd.
John Potter broderer holdethe A tenemente36 abuttynge weste vpon the seid high waye to the blackffryers bridge & coñ xxvijt ffoote. / Easte vpon A garden of Mr. Gernyngegams in the tenure of one Thomas Nasshe Capper coñ xxvij ffoote Sowthe vpon A stable of the same Mr. Gernynghm̃ in the tenure of Sr Thomas Saunders knighte coñ xviij ffoote and Northe vpon a tenemente of the seide Mr. gernynghm̃ in the tenure of the seide T. Nasshe coñ xviij ffoote payinge ad ijos Ai Diuios eqa lz [ad duos Anni divisiones equales] liijs. iiijd.
... Scryven gent holdeth A tenemente abutt northe vpon the seid highe waye to the blacke fryers bridge coñ xxxts[37] foote and weste vpon the same highe waye coñ lts37 ffoote. / Sowthe vpon the tenemente of Jame ffremounte widowe coñ xxiiij ffoote. / and Easte vpon A vacante place wch was the bodie of the Churche coñ lxijts ffote and vpon the yarde of A howse in ye tenure of T. ffillyppes xv ffoote in the hole on that syde lxxvij ffoote wt a lofte saylinge38 oư the entry of the tenemente of the seide Jame ffremounte widowe. / being in lengethe xxviij ffoote and in breddethe xij ffoote. / ... viij li.
Jame ffremounte wydowe holdethe A tenemente whereof the entrye is under the seid tenemente of J (?) ... Scryven and thother39 ioines [joines] under the lodginge of the lord Cobam the hole abuttinge easte vpon the late body of the churche of the blacke ffryers xxviij ffoote by est? [estimation] and vpon the late Cloyster of the same churche xxj ffoote in the hole on that syde xlix ffoote by estimacion. / weste vpon certen howses one in the tenure of Mr. Harper coñ xlix foote & vpon ye seid high waye iiij ffoote beinge the rome of her dore in the hole liij ffoote. Northe vpon the seid tenement of ... Scryven xxiiij foote vpon the wall of the seide late bodie of the churche towarde theste40 syde xx ffoote & upon the seid howses in the tenure of Mr. harper towards the weste syde xv ffoote in ye hole on that syde deductynge seven ffoote of the butt ageanst Mr. harpers howses wch is also A pcell of the xxiiij foote abutted ageanst ... Scryvens tenemente lij ffoote. and on the Sowthe side abutting vpon certen howses in the tenure of the lorde Cobhm̃ coñ lii ffoote. / payinge by yeare liijs. iiijd.
BLACKFRIARS SURVEY
[A document at Loseley Hall, near Guildhall, relating to the Blackfriars, 2 Ed. VI.]
[Howesses At the blacke ffryars in London.41
A Survey42 of certen Edifices bildinge and vo[yde] grounde ... [a word illegible? “&c.”] taken the ... [blank in MS.] of Marche in the ij yere of the rayne of Kinge Edward the vjth by ... [blank in MS.].
FFIRSTE A voyde grounde wth A decayed Galerye theryn and voyde romes therunder wheryn owlde tymber and carte wheles doe lye cont in lengeth iiij ∕ xx x viij [i.e. 98] foote abuttinge ageanste bridewell diche on the weste ende beinge there in breddethe at that ende lxxiiij foote abuttinge on the este ende to the comune highe waye and lane that goethe to the comune stayre at the temmes side ⁁ beinge in breddethe at that ende iiij ∕ xx x iiij (94) foote And abuttinge on the Northe side to the ladie or Mrs. Harpars garden and to one ffraunsis garden And on the Sowthe syde to Sꝰ [Sir] Xpoffer Mores garden wch galery runnethe alonge by the northe side of the seide voyde grounde from the est ende te the weste ende as it is above bounded. /
Transcriber’s Note: ⁁ is used for a fish-hook-like symbol that may perhaps represent a caret mark indicating that “on the este ende” should be transferred to this point from the line above.
Itm Cutchyn yarde an owlde cutchyn an entree or passage Joyninge to the same cont in lengethe xx/iiij iiij (84) foote, abuttinge on the weste syde to the lane aforseide and beinge in breddethe at that ende lxviij foote / and abuttinge ageanste the owlde buttrye on the este side beinge there in breddethe at that ende lxxiiij foote Abuttinge on the sowthe syde to Mr. Portmarys parler nexte the lane And to my lorde Cobhm̃s brack wall and garden on the Northe syde. /
Itm an owlde buttery and enterye or passage wth a greate Stayre therin wth Sellers therunder wth a halle place at the upper ende of the Stayre and an entree there to the frater over the same butterye all wch conteyne in lengethe xxxvts ffoote / and in breddethe iiij ∕ xx x v (95) fooet abuttinge to the cloyster on the Easte ende and the Cutchin aforseide at the weste ende and on the Northe syde to the lorde Cobhm̃s howse and on the Sowthe syde to A blynde pler that my lorde43 Warden did claim.
Itm A howse44 called the upper frater [?] in lengethe Cvij foote and in breddethe lij foote /
Itm vnder the same A hall A pler A lytle Chaumber A litle Cutchen therunder wth iiijor small sellers and darke holes therunder of the same lengethe and breddethe aforeseide /
Itm A voyde rome cont in lengethe xxxt foote and in breddethe xvij foote //
Itm a Chaumber called the Duchie Chaumber wth a darke loginge therunder cont in lengethe l45 foote and in breddethe xvj foote.