The Friary (West) (EHER 38232)

An early 19th century house, now two houses. It is built from yellow Gault brick in Flemish-bond on the south elevation (formerly the front) and red Flemish-bond brick on the others. The roofs are covered in slate on the south, east and west faces and plain tile on the others. It was built by Thomas Lee in 1803, following the construction of Friary East (EHER 38229) and the demolition of Mansion House, on land formerly used by the Carmelite Friary (EHER X).

September 1971. Grade II listed. An early 19th century house, now two houses. It is built from yellow Gault brick in Flemish-bond on the south elevation (formerly the front) and red Flemish-bond brick on the others. The roofs are covered in slate on the south, east and west faces and plain tile on the others. The roof is behind parapets with lead ridges and hips. The building is three storeys with cellar. The former front (south) elevation has a central Greek Doric portico with fluted columns, and the doorcase has decorative moulded hood and Gothick glazing bars. Either side are wide French windows with brick flat arches and decorative friezes. There are two stone steps. There is a single storey slate-roofed outbuilding on the north elevation. Internally, the building is similar to, and contemporary with, Friary East (EHER 38229) and has a central hallway with blind arcaded vestibule opening through an elliptical arch on reeded pilasters. All panelled doors at ground-floor level, to the major rooms, have moulded architraves with floriated square panels at the corners. The staircase is behind the south-front entrance, and is of dogleg form with wreathed handrail, stick balusters and elegant shaped tread ends. Some windows have folding internal shutters. The lounge in the SE corner has a reeded marble fireplace with reeded framed mirror over and elaborate plaster cornice. The room over, at first floor level, has a purple marble fireplace and reeded cornice. There is a further marble fireplace (grey) and one of painted timber, in other first floor rooms. <1> See photos <2>. November 2014. Trial trenching. Trial-trenching in advance of an extension on the west side of Friary West revealed 18th/19th century brick walls and drainage trenches, relating to a former conservatory and a laundry on that site. This was confirmed by pottery and building debris found within the same contexts. In the lower part of Trench 1 there were areas of mortar ghosting and a small section of mortar with slots for flint facing that did not appear to be in situ. Adjacent to this was one piece of wheel-turned Borderware pottery base with a green glaze probably from a 17th century porridger and possibly connected to the 15th century Mansion House, the site of which Friary West is built upon (see EHER 7729).There was no evidence of the Friary (EHER 7728). The Carmelite Friary was established on the site in 1293 and continued there until the time of the reformation in 1537 when under Henry VIII it ceased to be a Friary. The land was leased to William Harrys who used it for the holding of assemblies and plays. From 1544 to 1563 it changed ownership several times until finally Vincent Harrys acquired the land and built the Mansion house. In 1803 Thomas Lee demolished the Mansion House and built Friary East (EHER 38229) and then shortly after that Friary West. <3>