Leicester Austin Friary

Leicester Austin Friary stands in the heart of Leicester, a former Augustinian priory founded in 1254 and dedicated to Saint Katherine of Alexandria. It occupied a modest plot near the town centre, enlarged once in 1304 by Thomas, second Earl of Lancaster. The friary hosted a general chapter of the Order of Austin Hermits in 1372, drawing friars from across England. Among its community lived Thomas Ratcliffe, a friar noted for his preaching in the late 14th century. In 1538 the priory was surrendered during the Dissolution of the Monasteries. The site is worth visiting for its rare dual-cloister layout, unusual among English friaries. Despite its small size—at dissolution it housed only the prior and three friars, with an annual income of £1—it played a notable role in medieval religious life. Its history reflects the wider story of Augustinian friars in England. The priory’s modest scale contrasts with grander monastic houses, offering a quieter insight into religious life. Visitors find the remains incorporated into later buildings, including a public house called The Augustine. The friary’s two cloisters once framed quiet gardens where friars walked and studied. Nearby streets still carry echoes of its medieval presence. The site is easy to reach in central Leicester, where fragments of the past remain visible.