Guildford Black Friary, Dominican monastery in Guildford, England
Guildford Black Friary was a Dominican monastery that spread across roughly 10 acres on the east side of the River Wey. The complex featured a central cloister courtyard with the church nave running along the south side of the grounds.
Eleanor of Provence founded this Dominican community in 1275 as a center for friars. The monastery was dissolved in 1538 during King Henry VIII's reform of religious houses.
The burial ground shows how Dominican friars and local people were laid to rest together, reflecting the social order of medieval times. These graves reveal how different ranks of society coexisted in this sacred space.
The remains of the monastery lie about 3 feet (1 meter) below the modern ground level and are not visible to the naked eye. The site can still be explored, though there are no structures remaining above ground.
When the friary was demolished in 1606, salvaged stones and materials were reused in other buildings across Guildford. Pieces of the original structure ended up incorporated into various houses and constructions throughout the town.
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