The Friary is a small hamlet near Freshford – and around five miles from Bath. It’s a beautiful spot – close to the River Frome – and the site – historically – of buildings which housed the lay brothers employed at the Carthusian Priory at Hinton Charterhouse – just a mile away.
There’s not much to see of this former monastic settlement but its place in local history has now been marked by the unveiling of an interpretation board at this – the southern-most tip of the Cotswold Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
This highly-visual marker – paid for with a grant from the Cotswolds Conservation Board – also mentions the fact that traditional rural skills courses are run at this location, Many of them using the materials and local resources vital to the lay brothers who lived here nearly 800 years ago.
Marking the Southern-most tip of the Cotswold AONB, Mark O’Sullivan (Cotswold Conservation Board Secretary of State appointee and Bath resident) unveils an interpretative information board In Friary, just south of Bath, which marks the spot of this southern outpost and also explains the unique natural history of Friary, once part of a Carthusian monastery. Joining him are (L-R) Lucy Baile (Fern Forest School); Ed Bonn (COANB Rural Skills Officer); Cllr. Tony Merry (CCB member); Penny Williamson (Traditional and Rural Skills, Bath); and Tom Harper (Freshford and Limpley Stoke Environmental Working Group). The sign is on a public footpath, following the Two Valleys Walk, passing through Freshford and Avoncliff. All are welcome to stop by and enjoy Friary!
The unveiling was done by Mark O’Sullivan who is the Cotswold Conservation Board Secretary of State appointee and a Bath resident! The interpretative information board marks the spot of this southern outpost of the AONB and also explains the unique natural history of Friary and its former role as part of a Carthusian monastery.
(L-R) Marion and Alan Rayner (Bath Natural History Society) provided the words for the Interpretative Information Board in Friary; Roger Barnes (Architectural Historian) provided the reconstruction drawing of the Friary itself as it would have appeared in about 1400; Annette Becker (Designer) provided beautiful hand-drawn illustrations. Thanks to Penny Williamson for the images!
The sign is on a public footpath, following the Two Valleys Walk, passing through Freshford and Avoncliff.
Freelance Journalist, broadcaster, columnist and local historian. Director of Bath Newseum. Married and lives in Bath.
Interested in local history, architecture and visual display in museums and urban spaces.
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