Plaque

Black Friar pub

Inscription

The Blackfriar
This art-nouveau masterpiece was built in 1905 on the site of a former Dominican Friary which existed from 1279 - 1539. Following the 260 years of the Dominican Friars the site became the parliament chamber of the monastry. 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 marrage 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 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.

The plaque is a perfectly nice pub plaque but the pub is adorned with many lovely art nouveau images, in metal and stone, of monks either drunk already or making their way, some on their knees, to the Saloon Bar. So we have captured one of these instead.

Site: Black Friar pub (1 memorial)

EC4, Queen Victoria Street, Black Friar pub, 174

Built in 1875 by H. Fuller Clark but the exterior decorations which make it so memorable were added in 1903 by sculptors Nathaniel Hitch, Frederick T. Callcott and Henry Poole. Saved from demolition in the '60s by John Betjeman. More photos of this lovely building at Caroline's Miscellany.

Trivia: Via the Londonist Time Machine we learnt that the lettering on the outside of this pub directly influenced the titles in the opening credits of Blackadder II.

Comments are provided by Facebook, please ensure you are signed in here to see them

This section lists the subjects commemorated on the memorial on this page:
Black Friar pub

Subjects commemorated i

Blackfriars Priory

Built on the site of the Norman fortification known as Baynard's Castle which...

Read More

Catherine of Aragon

First wife of Henry VIII and married to him for longer (1509 - 1533) than the...

Read More

Sir John Betjeman

Poet Laureate 1972 - 1984. Conservation campaigner. Credited with saving the ...

Read More

Emperor Charles V

Born Ghent. Ruled over large chunks of Europe and the Spanish colonies in Ame...

Read More

King Henry VIII

Son of Henry VII. Born Born Greenwich Palace, as the spare, not the heir but ...

Read More

Show all 6

Nearby Memorials

St Peter's Wapping - Mission House

St Peter's Wapping - Mission House

E1, Wapping Lane

The WW2 plaque is very high up on the wall behind the arches and can only be read from a zoomed-in photo. The naming is confusing. This ...

Civilian war dead | WW2
3 subjects commemorated
Queen Elizabeth II Field - N19

Queen Elizabeth II Field - N19

N19, Tytherton Road, Foxham Children's Playground

The nearby Tufnell Park Playing Fields are also Fields in Trust and used to have their own plaque. But, a local resident informs us, this...

2 subjects commemorated, 1 creator
Opening of the British Library

Opening of the British Library

NW1, Euston Road, The British Library

This inscription is opposite the entrance, below the Shakespeare statue.

1 subject commemorated, 1 creator
James Hanley

James Hanley

NW5, Lissenden Gardens, 11 Clevedon Mansions

James Hanley, 1897 - 1985, novelist and playwright, lived here. Lissenden Gardens Tenants Association Heritage Lottery Fund 

1 subject commemorated, 2 creators
Thomas Huxley - NW8

Thomas Huxley - NW8

NW8, Marlborough Place, Marlborough House, 38

We believe this building is now (2021) offices for St Nicholas Montessori Charity.

1 subject commemorated, 1 creator

Previously viewed

Martin Peters

Martin Peters

Football player and manager. Martin Stanford Peters was born on 8 November 1943 in Egham Road, Plaistow. He played for several teams, principally West Ham United and went on to manage Sheffield Un...

Person, Sport / Games

2 memorials
Bloomberg L. P.

Bloomberg L. P.

Bloomberg L.P. is a privately held financial, software, data, and media company headquartered in Midtown Manhattan, New York City. It was founded by Michael Bloomberg in 1981.

Group, Benefactor

3 memorials
Benvenuto Cellini

Benvenuto Cellini

Italian goldsmith, sculptor, draftsman, soldier, musician, and artist who also wrote a famous autobiography and poetry.

Person, Art, Craft / Design, Literature, Music / songs, Poetry, Sculpture, Italy

2 memorials