Summary : Dominican Priory founded in 1222, dissolved in 1539. The church, refectory and other buildings were burnt by miscreants in 1288. An unidentifiable part of the friary remains as an extant building. Excavations in the undercroft of the refectory revealed multiple usage in the post-Mediaeval period, including use as a forge, warehouse, wine store and Baptist Meeting House. Excavations in Spain Lane in the 1990s revealed Mediaeval mortared floors and pits, but no structural features. |
More information : [TF 3288 4391] Dominican Priory [NR] (Supposed remains of) [Name TF 3289 4395] Dominican Priory [NR] (site of). (1)
The Dominican friars settled in Boston soon after 1221. The church and other buildings were burnt during the chamberlain's riot of 1287-8 and re-established shortly afterwards. The house was surrendered in 1539.
The site occupied about five acres between Shodfriars Lane and Spain Lane. The remains in Spain Lane (3), are of an early 13th century, two-storey building, the oldest in Boston, which probably formed part of the south range of the cloister buildings.
Fragmentary remains, (3) probably of the church, lie behind the Custom House in South Street, and in Ridlington's wine-cellars adjoining it.
The burial ground was probably near the school [TF 3296 4398] in Shodfriars Lane. When digging a well in the schoolyard in 1816, a stone coffin was discovered at a considerable depth. (2-4) The site was being excavated in 1961. (5) Dominican Friary, Spain Lane, scheduled. (6) Extant remains of the Friary are as described above and there is also an arch in the entry of the "Ship Inn", South Street. The cloister range is now being restored. See G.Ps. AO/65/18/3, 4 & 8. The excavation report of authority 5 is not yet published. (7)
Blackfriars, former Dominican Friary. Grade II* . Former Dominican Friary. Stone mediaeval building of 2 storeys. New tile roof. 7 window openings in upper storey, 4 containing chamfered paired lights with pointed heads but no mullions. 3 modern casements. 5 projecting stone corbels between storeys. Ground floor has 2 C14 archways with chamfered architraves. Modern doorway to right and 1 blocked to left. Also modern round windows to ground floor. Modern work to left corner. Building restored 1963. (8)
Medieval (late 13th century) glass bowl fragments. De-scheduled. (9)
Extra source. (10)
Listed. Part of the site is designated. For the designated record please see The National Heritage List for England. (11-15) |