Blackfriars Leicester, also known as St Clement’s Church, Leicester and
St Clement’s Priory, Leicester, is a former priory of the Order of Preachers in Leicester, England. It is also the name of a former civic parish, and a neighbourhood in the city built on and around the site of the old priory.
The Blackfriars Pavement in Jewry Wall Museum
A “Blackfriar” (Dominican Friar or Friar Preacher)
An image of a medieval funeral procession in Leicester involving Friars from four different mendicant orders including the Blackfriars, as well as the Greyfriars, the Austin Friars, some Whitefriars (an order not present in Leicester), and a group of lay mourners. The church depicted is the now demolished St Sepulchre outside the southern wall of old Leicester (now Leicester Royal Infirmary).
St Dominic accompanied by Simon de Montfort raising the crucifix against the Albigensians by Daniel van den Dyck
The Abbey of Saint Mary de Pratis, more commonly known as Leicester Abbey, was an Augustinian religious house in the city of Leicester, in the East Midlands of England. The abbey was founded in the 12th century by the Robert de Beaumont, 2nd Earl of Leicester, and grew to become the wealthiest religious establishment within Leicestershire. Through patronage and donations the abbey gained the advowsons of countless churches throughout England, and acquired a considerable amount of land, and several manorial lordships. Leicester Abbey also maintained a cell at Cockerham Priory, in Lancashire. The Abbey's prosperity was boosted through the passage of special privileges by both the English Kings and the Pope. These included an exemption from sending representatives to parliament and from paying tithe on certain land and livestock. Despite its privileges and sizeable landed estates, from the late 14th century the abbey began to suffer financially and was forced to lease out its estates. The worsening financial situation was exacerbated throughout the 15th century and early 16th century by a series of incompetent, corrupt and extravagant abbots. By 1535 the abbey's considerable income was exceeded by even more considerable debts.
Low walls laid out on the general plan of Leicester Abbey, which was established during excavations in the 1920s and 1930s.
The remains of the abbey's East Precinct Walls
Medieval floor tiles excavated at Leicester Abbey
Cardinal Thomas Wolsey, who died at Leicester Abbey on 30 November 1530
