Austin Friars, London

Austin Friars, London

Plan of Austin Friars, 1550s
Monastery information
Order	Augustinian
Established	1260s?
Disestablished	November 1538
Dedicated to	St Augustine
Diocese	London
People
Founder(s)	Humphrey de Bohun, 2nd Earl of Hereford
Site
Location	City of London, England
Coordinates	51°30′56″N 0°05′08″W / 51.51557°N 0.085579°W / 51.51557; -0.085579
Grid reference	TQ 32912 81334
Visible remains	Dutch Church, Austin Friars
Public access	Yes (Dutch Church only)

Austin Friars, London was an Augustinian friary in the City of London from its foundation, probably in the 1260s, until its dissolution in November 1538.^[1] It covered an area of about 5.5 acres (2.2 hectares) a short distance to the north-east of the modern Bank of England and had a resident population of about 60 friars. A church stood at the centre of the friary precinct, with a complex of buildings behind it providing accommodation, refreshment and study space for the friars and visiting students. A large part of the friary precinct was occupied by gardens that provided vegetables, fruit and medicinal herbs.

In addition, some of the precinct and land immediately adjoining it was used to build rented tenements which were occupied by a number of notable figures including Erasmus, the imperial ambassador Eustace Chapuys, and Thomas Cromwell, the principal official of King Henry VIII. As Cromwell's fortunes rose, he obtained more of the friary's land to build one of the largest private mansions in London. However, his house was seized by the Crown following his fall from power and execution in July 1540. It was sold off along with the friary precinct, much of which was subsequently demolished. The mansion became the Drapers' Hall, while the nave of the friary church became the Dutch Church at Austin Friars.