Monument record MDO6706 - Melcombe Blackfriars, Weymouth

The Dominican Friary was founded by Hugh Deverell and John Rogers and in 1418 leave was granted to erect a convent with a church, belfry, churchyard & cloisters, and immediately a chapel was set up. In 1538 the Bishop of Dover took the priory into the Kings hands & in 1543 Sir John Rogers, grandson of the founder, purchased the whole of the friary. The friary was situated in Maiden Street &, according to Leyland, was a fair house Speed refers to the patron saint as St Dominic but according to Willis its dedication was to St Winifrid. The cemetery appears to have been on the N. side where many skeletons were dug up in 1682. The priory was in ruins in 1650 but in 1803 some of the buildings still stood including the church which was being used as a malthouse. Completely demolished in 1861. A portion of what was supposed to have been part of the domestic buildings was finally demolished in 1923. <1-3>

Melcome or Melcombe Regis. Founded in 1418 and dissolved in 1538 - a Dominican House. Visitation London. <5>

It is believed that the archway in Governors Lane may be part of the Priory. <6>

[SY 68007881] In view of T4, the siting in T.1. is incorrect. The area was perambulated and no trace of antiquity was found except at SY67797880 where an ashlar archway appears to be in situ in a roughly built 15 inch thick wall masked on both sides by plaster but traceable to the west for 1m and to the east for 2m where a groined corner bonds a similar wall which is traceable for 2.5m in a northerly direction. This may be part of the remains of the priory but there is nothing to substantiate the supposition. <7>

<1> Shipp, W, and Hodson, J W (eds), 1863, The History and Antiquities of the County of Dorset. 3rd edition. Volume 2 (Monograph). SWX1269.

<1.1> Leyland J, 1745, Leyland's Itinerary, 65 (Monograph). SWX1378.

<1.2> Relig. XXI from Bull. Ord. Pared. (Unpublished document). SWX1377.

<1.3> L and P. Henry VIII xiii (1214 (Unpublished document). SWX8420.

<2> Page, W (Ed), 1908, The Victoria History of the County of Dorset 2, 92-3 (Monograph). SWX1805.

<3> Long E T, 1931, Religious Houses of Dorset, 16-50 (Article in serial). SWX1806.

<4> Ordnance Survey, 1929, Ordnance Survey Map 25, 1939 (Map). SWX1185.

Site of PRIORY [GT]

<5> Rigg, J, Field Investigators Comments JR, F1 JR 30-JUN-54 (Unpublished document). SWX1255.

<6> Rigg, J, Field Investigators Comments JR, F2 JR 12-AUG-54 (Unpublished document). SWX1255.

<6.1> West, 1954, Oral: Mr West 12.8.54 Librarian Weymouth Public Library (Verbal communication). SWX1808.

<7> Knowles, D, 1982, Medieval Religious Houses in England and Wales, 186 (Monograph). SWX1201.

<7> Knowles, D, 1982, Medieval Religious Houses in England and Wales, 217 (Monograph). SWX1201.

<8> National Record of the Historic Environment, 451632 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Dec 2 2022 1:02PM