700 YEAR OLD FRIARY TO BE RESTORED

THE 700-year-old remains of Blackfriars, Newcastle-uponTyne are to be restored with the help of a grant from the Minister of Public Works and Buildings.
The grant is among 16 which are being awarded on the recommendation of the Historic Buildings Council for England and Wales.
Blackfriarss Newcastle, is one of only three medieval Dominican friaries which have survived with any degree of completeness. The others are at Norwich and Gloucester.
The Newcastle House was Founded in 1239, It was acquired by the Corporation in 1544 and was adapted in subsequent years and used by town guilds some of whom still meet there today. There are three ranges of buildings built rbund a cloister. On the fourth side stood the church, little of which now remains above ground level. Trial excavations have revealed the complete plan of the Friary.
For many years the Dominicans themselves, led by the Prior of St. Dominic's, Newcastle, hoped to be able to restore the buildings and bring them back to Dominican use. Eventually it was decided that the Dominicans would not be able to staff another house in the city.
Present plans are for the buildings to be restored and to be the offices of the City Archivist. They will he open for research by students and other visitors, and exhibitions of manuscripts and other documents will be arranged.