3.1 Site Visit Ecologies
Visit to the Franciscian Secret Gardens Monday 5th Febuaury 10:00 Meet at UCA 11:00 Garden visit
Outline of ecclesiastical buildings Location
Wise Words Festival, 2017
River Stour, Canterbur y
Giotto, T he Preaching of St Francis to the Birds, c.1298
UCA Canterbury School of Architecture // MA Architecture // MA Interior Design // 2017-18
2.3 T he Franciscian Secret Garden
The Friary at Canterbury was the earliest Franciscian foundation in the country, built within the lifetime of St Francis. The Greyfriars was dissolved in 1538. For a time, the grounds were a plant nursery. The Franciscians first settled on the east back of the Stour on the islet opposite the Poor Priests Hospital and south east of the current site in 1224, moving to Binnewith Island in 1267. The lands expanded to 18 acres, of which the current gardens are part, and uses included farming and water meadows. The friary buildings are no longer standing, but there used to exist a large church, accommodation, a cloister and ancillary buildings. Following the demolition of the ecclesiatical buildings, a large house was errected on the site and an exisiting wall from that structure still remains. In 2003, the Franciscian brothers retuned to the site and are now accomodated in a house on the high street. High Street
present home of the friars
chapel
UCA Canterbury School of Architecture // MA Architecture // MA Interior Design // 2017-18