Greyfriars House And Attached Remains Of Greyfriars Church

Greyfriars House and Attached Remains of Greyfriars Church, Gloucester

This is a Grade I listed building comprising a town house adjoining the surviving remains of the nave and north aisle of a former Franciscan Friary church, now adapted for use as a library.

The Franciscan Friary was founded around 1231. The church was rebuilt around 1518 in Perpendicular Gothic style, funded by Maurice Berkeley, Lord Berkeley, the patron of the friary. Following the Dissolution in 1538, the friary buildings were converted to various uses. During the siege of Gloucester in 1643 by Royalist forces, the buildings suffered severe damage. By 1721, only the nave and north aisle remained standing. Later in the 18th century, houses were built within the medieval walls. Around 1810, a substantial house in classical style was constructed into the west end of the medieval remains for Philo Maddy, a currier. In the 1960s, the church remains to the east of the house were cleared of later structures and consolidated by the Ancient Monuments Branch of the former Ministry of Public Building and Works. The house was then converted for use as a public library for Gloucestershire County Council.

The church remains are constructed of ashlar and rubble. The original plan comprised nave and slightly narrower north aisle of seven bays. The house now occupies the site of the two western bays, with remains of the south wall of the nave and north wall of the north aisle incorporated into its side walls.

The south wall of the nave and north wall of the north aisle survive to full height. Externally, the bays are defined by buttresses with three weathered offsets. A tall arcade between nave and aisle features moulded lozenge-plan piers with moulded bases, capitals and arches, though portions are infilled with later rubble blockings. Each bay of the outer walls contains the remains of large four-light arched windows; at the east end of the north aisle is the remains of a six-light window. Some windows retain portions of Perpendicular tracery, preserved in part by later infilling. At the bottom of each window the lights are infilled with panels carved with escutcheons in high relief. The wall faces between windows are decorated with blind panelling. At the east end of the nave, moulded piers support a transverse arch at the former crossing. On the south side of the nave is evidence of the former north walk of the cloister abutting the eastern six bays. Reset in the outer face of the nave south wall are two stone shields carved with the arms of Chandos and Clifford of Frampton, possibly from a former funerary monument.

Greyfriars House is constructed of ashlar with a slate roof. It is a double-depth block of three storeys with a cellar. The symmetrical entrance front faces west and comprises five bays with a slight projection to the three central bays. It features an offset plinth, a plain raised band at first-floor sill level, a crowning entablature with modillion cornice, and a modillion pediment above the three central projecting bays with parapets above the outer bays. The central bay is slightly recessed on the upper floors above the first-floor sill band, with a cambered arched head in the tympanum of the pediment. On the ground floor, the central bay contains a projecting single-storey entrance porch in Roman Doric order with columns at the outer corners supporting entablature and pediment. On each side are sashes with glazing bars (3x4 panes). The first floor has five sashes with similar glazing; the third floor has short sashes with glazing bars (3x2 panes), all in openings with projecting stone sills. The side walls feature similar sashes with glazing bars on each floor.

The interior has been largely refitted in the 20th century.

The building is a Scheduled Ancient Monument.