Friaries: The friars of the sack, Canterbury

38. THE FRIARS OF THE SACK OF CANTERBURY

The Friars of the Penance of Jesus Christ or Friars of the Sack must have settled here before 1274, when the order was suppressed by the Council of Lyons. Edward I gave them 3s. for three days' food in 1289, (fn. 1) and a similar sum in 1297; there were thus probably only three friars remaining at that time. The friary came to an end some time before 1314, when there was a dispute whether the land should escheat to the crown or to Adam Hurice or Hurel. (fn. 2) The king recovered it as an escheat, and the city paid the crown a yearly rent of 10s. for it till 1402. (fn. 3) The tenement continued to be known as 'the house of the friars of the Sac,' and was held by lease under the corporation of Canterbury in the fourteenth century. In 1544 it was granted to Thomas Babington of Dethick, Derbyshire, being at that time in the tenure of John Welett. (fn. 4) It afterwards came into the hands of Sir James Hales, kt., who granted it in 1551, in exchange for other lands in Canterbury, to the mayor and commonalty; the latter soon sold it to a Mr. Bingham. The house was situated in St. Peter's Street to the west of the Grey Friars. (fn. 5)