Newport friary was the only house of the Austin Friars in Wales. It was founded in the late fourteenth century by Hugh, earl of Stafford, and surrendered in 1538. show details of standing remains
Standing remains
The friary was situated in a field called 'Friars Field' which is shown on eighteenth-century maps of Newport and stretched down to the river. The friary itself stood in the area now occupied by the bus station. Nothing remains of the friary although some of the buildings survived into the nineteenth or early twentieth century. An engraving of the friary was published in 1859. The friary is also depicted in Joshua Gosselin's 1784 watercolour although this was erroneously described as the house of the Blackfriars by Belle Vue Park.
Medieval Diocese: Llandaff Lordship at foundation: Glamorgan Access: No remains; the bus station now occupies the site of the friary.
Main events in the history of this site
c.1377: Foundation - The friary was founded shortly before 1377 by Hugh, earl of Stafford, seemingly on the site of a chapel dedicated to St Nicholas.
[3 sources] c.1402: Destruction - The friary was destroyed in the Welsh revolt but was rebuilt shortly thereafter thanks to the duke of Buckingham. [2 sources] pre 1448: Bequest - Hugh, duke of Buckingham, gave twenty-two burgages to the friary. [1 source] 1482: Bequest - Henry, duke of Buckingham, gave six burgages to the friar. [1 source] 1495: Bequest - Jasper Tudor, duke of Bedford and uncle of Henry VII, bequeathed twenty shillings to the Austin Friars at Newport. [2 sources] 1538: Dissolution - On 8 September 1538 the friary was surrendered to the king's agent by the last prior of Newport, Richard Batte. [5 sources] + 4 minor events.Show minor events
