Greyfriars, Leicester

Greyfriars Leicester
Greyfriars site superimposed on a modern map of the area. Richard III's burial site is shown by a small dot.
Greyfriars, Leicester is located in Leicestershire
Greyfriars, Leicester
Location within Leicestershire
Monastery information
Other namesLeicester Franciscan Friary
OrderOrder of Friars Minor
EstablishedBefore 1230[1]
Disestablished1535
Dedicated toSaint Mary Magdalene[2]
or Saint Francis of Assisi[3]
DioceseLincoln
People
Founder(s)Unclear
Traditionally credited but unlikely: Simon de Montfort, 6th Earl of Leicester
Suggested either: Gilbert and Ellen Luenor, or John Pickering
Site
LocationLeicester
Coordinates52°38′02″N 1°08′11″W / 52.634007°N 1.136431°W / 52.634007; -1.136431
Grid referenceSK58650434
Visible remainsNone[1]

Greyfriars, Leicester, was a friary of the Order of Friars Minor, commonly known as the Franciscans, established on the west side of Leicester by 1250, and dissolved in 1535.[1] Following dissolution the friary was demolished and the site levelled, subdivided, and developed over the following centuries. The locality has retained the name Greyfriars particularly in the streets named "Grey Friars", and the older "Friar Lane".

The friary is best known as the burial place of King Richard III who was hastily buried in the friary church following his death at the Battle of Bosworth. An archaeological dig in 2012–13 successfully identified the site of the Greyfriars church and the location of Richard's burial.[4] The grave site was incorporated into the 'Dynasty, Death and Discovery' museum which opened in 2014. In December 2017, Historic England scheduled the site.[5]

  1. ^ a b c Historic England. "Leicester Greyfriars (867109)". Research records (formerly PastScape). Retrieved 29 July 2013.
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference DMU was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference BH was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ "The Discovery of Richard III". University of Leicester. Retrieved 4 February 2013.
  5. ^ Historic England (21 December 2017). "Greyfriars, Leicester (1442955)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 21 December 2017.