Stafford Friary

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} {{Infobox monastery | name = Stafford Friary | image = | alt = | caption = | full = | other_names = The Franciscan Friars of Stafford<ref name="UK History">{{cite web |url=http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=37858 |title=Friaries: The Franciscan friars of Stafford |author=M W Greenslade, R B Pugh (Editors), G C Baugh, Revd L W Cowie, Revd J C Dickinson, A P Duggan, A K B Evans, R H Evans, Una C Hannam, P Heath, D A Johnston, Professor Hilda Johnstone, Ann J Kettle, J L Kirby, Revd R Mansfield, Professor A Saltman |publisher=Institute of Historical Research |date=1970 |work=A History of the County of Stafford: Volume 3 |accessdate=10 September 2014 }}</ref> | order = [[Franciscan]] | established = 13th Century | disestablished = 1538 | mother = | dedication = | diocese = | churches = | founder = | abbot = | prior = | people = | location = [[Stafford]], [[Staffordshire]], [[England]] | map_type = | coord = | oscoor = | remains = | public_access = | other_info = }} '''Stafford Friary''' was a [[Monastery|religious house]] of [[Franciscan]] friars in [[Stafford]], [[Staffordshire]], [[England]]. Founded sometime in the 13th century, it was a surrendered to [[the Crown]] in 1538, during the [[Dissolution of the Monasteries]].

==History==

===Foundation and early history=== Whilst the date of foundation is not known for certain, the friary was in existence by 1274, when it is recorded that the [[Bishop of Lichfield and Coventry]] granted 20 days' [[indulgence]] to anyone who visited the friary and said the [[Lord's Prayer]] and the [[Hail Mary]] in the name of the king.<ref name="UK History"/> The founder of the friary is uncertain, but it may have been a member of the [[Baron Stafford#Barons Stafford, first creation (1299)|Stafford Family]], local landowners. [[Edmund de Stafford, 1st Baron Stafford]] was buried in the friary church in 1308, instead of the usual family burial place at [[Stone Priory]].<ref name="UK History"/>

The friary, always remaining relatively small, is listed as under the custody of [[Worcester, England|Worcester]] in an official list of ''"[[Ecclesiastical province|provinces]], custodies and houses"'' compiled at a [[Chapter (religion)|general chapter]] held in [[Perpignan]], [[France]] in 1331. The house received a sum of 6s. 8d in the wills of Isabel de Sutton and [[Justice of the Peace]] Roger Horton.<ref name="UK History"/>

===Dissolution=== The house was suppressed by [[the Crown]], in what is known as the [[Dissolution of the Monasteries]], in 1538. The friars seemed to have surrendered the house willingly and an inventory of goods and [[Personal property|chattels]] was taken by [[Richard Yngworth|Richard Ingworth]], [[Bishop of Dover]]. By this point the friary was relatively poor, with rents only amount to £1 6s. 8d but with debts of £4. A sale of the buildings and goods was held in September 1538, raising a total of £34 3s. 10d. The lead and bells were sold separately, for £45 and £10 respectively.<ref name="UK History"/> What was left of the friary was pulled down in 1644, as parts of efforts to defend the town during the [[English Civil War|Civil War]].<ref name="UK History"/>

==References== {{Reflist}}

[[Category:Monasteries in Staffordshire]]