04 ecology site visit

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