Grey Friars, Canterbury, South East, England

The Order of the Grey Friars was founded by Francesco Bernadone of Assisi, in 1208, to serve the poor people in towns and cities. Their intention was to teach through example, and they were to lead lives of poverty and humility. The Order arrived in England in 1224, when nine Friars, under the leadership of Agnellus of Pisa, landed at Dover and five of them established a base in Canterbury, with the others going on to London. The Order at Canterbury was England’s first Franciscan establishment. Those who remained in Canterbury were accepted into the lodge of Poor Priests, and the were supported by Alexander of Gloucester, who was the hospitals founder and warden. Before the end of the year, they had settled on a site within the hospital’s garden.

Eventually the Order was directed, by the Pope, to acquire property to support their mission and by the 14th Century they acquired 18 acres of marshland in Canterbury. The land was drained so that it could be farmed, and the large stone building was built between 1267 and 1325. The remaining building over the River Stour may have originally been a mill, but was later a residence.