Blackfriars

North East Civic Trust, Monk Street, Newcastle Upon Tyne, United Kingdom
Tel: +44 191 232 9279
 

Blackfriars is a restored 13th-century friary in Newcastle city centre. These tranquil buildings served as a monasterial retreat for some 300 years until King Henry VIII decided that he wanted a divorce in 1539. After this the monasteries were dissolved and Blackfriars was converted into a series of meeting rooms and almshouses for the destitute. Some parts of the building continued to house the poor up until the 1930s. Restored in the 1980s, Blackfriars now houses a range of craft workshops. A gallery and a shop retailing their products are open to the public. Blackfriars also has an exhibition which details the history and development of Newcastle, and Eclectic, an English restaurant. A large grassy courtyard contrasts with the buzz of city life that surrounds the area, and this space is an occasional host to outdoor theatre events. A section of the old Town Walls also stands close to the site. Admission: free.

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• Attraction Type: Religious Buildings
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