Grey Friars, • Time Line • years 70 to 2014 44 – 1100s 1224-1500s 1500s - 1700s 1740 – 1800s 1850s - 1900s 1904 - 2007 The site was first enclosed in AD70 when walls were Franciscan Henry VIII seized all friaries, The period of Some eminent local The nuns ran their school built around Colchester after Boudicca’s forces (Grey) Friars convents and monasteries and Georgian elegance Victorians lived here from 1904-1919. Part of destroyed the large but undefended town. were given sold or plundered or gave away began and the area including Stephen the County High School

land between land and buildings. The site had was tidied up with Brown (silk factory for Girls occupied the site High St and various owners from the 1500s some impressive owner), various senior 1920-1957. From 1958- north and east to the 1700s. During the Civil houses built by army officers and, in 1968 the site was used walls by Kings War, when Colchester was held wealthy people in 1891, Dr Edward Fenn temporarily by Monkwick and local under siege by Cromwell’s this part of town. (below). His family & Philip Morant schools people. Parliamentarian army, King were the last to call and the School of Music Charles’ were Grey Friars their (now part of Colchester supported by Colchester’s Sir home. Dr Fenn sold to Institute). It then served Charles Lucas, causing the town The Ladies of Nazareth as Colchester’s adult much suffering and damage, who converted the community college for 40 especially around the walls. site to a convent, day years until County Grey Friars built 1755 and boarding school. Council closed it in 2007.

The Romans Vikings / Norman period Henry III Henry VIII Charles I Georgian period Victorian Edwardian 100 years of Education Anglo-Saxons Edwards I & II period period

The area Pictures show typical Roman contained a few and Anglo-Saxon Possible original The Convent School 1904 houses, mostly houses along the main Normans Typical Franciscan Drawing of part There were of the remains on Dr Robert Potter road and some invaded tower possibly a few the site in 1718 Typical He bought the site spread out on and built a large Through scattered in 1740, then sold, side streets castle on the continuous The site was In 1648 the houses across circa 1752, to Rev within the site. remains of royal part in ruins, Grey Friars site the site during John Halls who built Residents in Colchester’s patronage, an part lived-in housed this time. the present house, Edward and Adria Design for new hotel entrance. Castle and Roman temple. impressive from 1500s to prisoners when Unfortunately, probably with much Fenn born 1895/6 In course of development, 2014 Roman Roads King William I complex of 1700s. Only Sir Charles little remains financial support during the family’s The range of buildings is still find Roman took ownership buildings re-used Lucas’s Royalist or is known of from his wealthy time at Grey Friars. about to enter a new remains in their of much of the developed, materials soldiers finally life in this mother-in-law Mrs Edward was killed in phase after sensitive and gardens. nearby land. visible for remain. surrendered. period. Selley, a brewer. the First World War. high quality conversion. miles around.

Grey Friars CALA • charity number 1095713 Colchester’s Forgotten Corner Colchester Adult Learning Assistance

A ‘Sharing Heritage’ project by the CALA charity [email protected]