City of London in Greater London, England, United Kingdom — Northwestern Europe (the British Isles)
The Black Friar
Photographed by Andrew Ruppenstein, March 17, 2018
1. The Black Friar Marker
Inscription.
The Black Friar. . This Art Nouveau masterpiece was built in 1905 on the site of a former Dominican friary which existed from 1279 to 1539. Following the 260 years of the Dominican friars, the site became the parliament chamber of the monastery. It is believed that Emperor Charles V, the Papal Magistrate and Henry VIII's court sat on this very site during the dissolution of Henry VIII's marriage to Catherine of Aragon in 1532. The Black Friar has been a favourite watering hole for many since the merry monks first settled on this site. Its unusual shape is due to the fact that all of the surrounding buildings have long since been demolished, taking with them the small alleyways that were once the only access to the pub. This wonderful pub was due for demolition in the Sixties but the public outcry led by Sir John Betjeman and Lady Dartmouth saved the building.
This Art Nouveau masterpiece was built in 1905 on the site of a former Dominican friary which existed from 1279 to 1539. Following the 260 years of the Dominican friars, the site became the parliament chamber of the monastery. It is believed that Emperor Charles V, the Papal Magistrate and Henry VIII's court sat on this very site during the dissolution of Henry VIII's marriage to Catherine of Aragon in 1532. The Black Friar has been a favourite watering hole for many since the merry monks first settled on this site. Its unusual shape is due to the fact that all of the surrounding buildings have long since been demolished, taking with them the small alleyways that were once the only access to the pub. This wonderful pub was due for demolition in the Sixties but the public outcry led by Sir John Betjeman and Lady Dartmouth saved the building.
Location. 51° 30.731′ N, 0° 6.227′ W. Marker is in City of London, England,
Click or scan to see this page online
in Greater London. It is at the intersection of Queen Victoria Street and New Bridge Street on Queen Victoria Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 174 Queen Victoria Street, City of London, England EC4V 4EG, United Kingdom. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in the Greater South East. Globally, it is on the Atlantic Ocean, in the North Atlantic Region, in Europe, in Atlantic Europe, on one of the British Isles, in the Western World, and in the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Roman Empire.
Photographed by Andrew Ruppenstein, March 17, 2018
2. The Black Friar Marker - Wide View
"The Black Friar is a Grade II* listed public house on Queen Victoria Street in Blackfriars, London....It was built in about 1875 on the site of a former medieval Dominican friary, and then remodelled in about 1905 by the architect Herbert Fuller-Clark. Much of the internal decoration was done by the sculptors Frederick T. Callcott & Henry Poole." (Submitted on May 4, 2018.)
Photographed by Andrew Ruppenstein, March 17, 2018
3. The Black Friar
Although not quite visible here, the marker is located just to the right of the entrance that is on the left side, towards the rear of the building.
Photographed by Andrew Ruppenstein, March 17, 2018
4. The Black Friar - Exterior Decoration
Photographed by Andrew Ruppenstein, March 20, 2018
5. The Black Friar - Exterior Detail
Photographed by Andrew Ruppenstein, March 20, 2018
6. The Black Friar - Interior Detail - "Haste is Slow"
Interior detail of a friar eating. By Henry Poole, RA.
Credits. This page was last revised on March 4, 2026. It was originally submitted on May 4, 2018, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California. This page has been viewed 654 times since then and 37 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on May 4, 2018, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California.
