Blackfriars Rose Garden, Hereford

Grid Reference: SO 511404

The Blackfriars Rose Garden is a secluded oasis which lies close to the centre of the City of Hereford and can be accessed off Widemarsh Street.

It contains an important part of Hereford’s hidden heritage – the ruined remains of the friary of the Blackfriars, once one of the most important of the City’s religious houses and it’s associated preaching cross.

The Blackfriars, or Dominicans were given the site outside the Widemarsh Gate of the City in 1319.

In 1538 the friary was dissolved and at the beginning of the 17th Century one wing of the cloisters was converted into a fine town house by Sir Thomas Coningsby of Hampton Court in the north of the county.

The new house was badly damaged during the Civil War and later became a farm building.

On the roadside was a cell of Knights Hospitallers of St. John of Jerusalem and a museum now occupies part of the 13th century chapel and hall.

Adjoining this is a hospital or almshouse, which was built by Coningsby around 1614.

Grouped around a quiet quadrangle, twelve separate lodgings were formerly used to accommodate a Chaplain and eleven retired soldiers, seamen or servants.

Sir Thomas Coningsby’s house was originally approached from Widemarsh Street through a gatehouse. The building materials used for the gatehouse and the hospital came from the demolition of the friary church.

The gateway has since been blocked but the outline can still be seen.

The Blackfriars were also known as the Friars Preachers and regularly gave sermons to the local populace from their preaching crosses.

The cross in the grounds is the only example to survive in the Country. It has been restored at least twice since 1830.