Greyfriars, Leicester
Greyfriars, Leicester, was a friary of the Order of Friars Minor, commonly known as the Franciscans, established on the west side of Leicester by 1250, and dissolved in 1535. Following dissolution the friary was demolished and the site levelled, subdivided, and developed over the following centuries. The locality has retained the name Greyfriars particularly in the streets named "Grey Friars", and the older "Friar Lane".
Greyfriars site superimposed on a modern map of the area. Richard III's burial site is shown by a small dot. | |
Location within Leicestershire | |
| Monastery information | |
|---|---|
| Other names | Leicester Franciscan Friary |
| Order | Order of Friars Minor |
| Established | Before 1230 |
| Disestablished | 1535 |
| Dedicated to | Unclear: Possibly Saint Francis of Assisi or Saint Mary Magdalene |
| Diocese | Lincoln |
| People | |
| Founder(s) | Unclear Traditionally credited but unlikely: Simon de Montfort, 6th Earl of Leicester Suggested either: Gilbert and Ellen Luenor, or John Pickering |
| Site | |
| Location | Leicester |
| Coordinates | 52.634007°N 1.136431°W |
| Grid reference | SK58650434 |
| Visible remains | None |
The friary is best known as the burial place of King Richard III who was hastily buried in the friary church following his death at the Battle of Bosworth. An archaeological dig in 2012–13 successfully identified the site of the Greyfriars church and the location of Richard's burial. The grave site was incorporated into the 'Dynasty, Death and Discovery' museum which opened in 2014. In December 2017, Historic England scheduled the site.