Greyfriars, Winchelsea

Greyfriars is a Franciscan friary in Winchelsea with partially preserved medieval stone structures. The site contains a full-height choir, sections of the north aisle's east wall, parts of the south wall featuring a 17th-century doorway, and remains of the cloister and monastic buildings scattered across the lawn.

The friary was founded in 1242 in Old Winchelsea and relocated to its present location in 1285 after acquiring 28 acres from John Bone of Wickham. The church's chancel was built between 1310 and 1320, representing a significant example of Franciscan architecture from that period.

The site is named after the Franciscan community that once inhabited it and remains a quiet place where visitors can sense its monastic past. The standing walls reveal how monks lived and worshipped here over several centuries.

The site is best visited during dry summer months when the outlines of monastic buildings become visible on the lawn. The grounds are freely accessible and sturdy footwear is helpful, especially when the ground remains damp from recent rain.

The property appears in William Makepeace Thackeray's unfinished novel as the home of the Weston brothers, notorious highwaymen of the 18th century. This literary connection adds a surprising cultural layer to the site beyond its purely religious history.