King Henry III established the Ipswich Dominican friars, dedicated to St. Mary, in 1263. This was one of five monasteries in the town, and the land was purchased by both the King and Robert Kilwardby, who had been named provincial prior of the Dominicans for England in 1261.

By the 16th century The Bishop of Dover had the monastery dissolved under the orders of King Henry the VIII and the land was sold to William Aubyn, one of the King’s Serjeant-at-Arms and a Minister for parliament.

According to the maps of John Speed (1610), John Ogilby (1674) and Joseph Pennington (1778) there continued to be a large structure on the site, described as an almshouse called Christ Hospital. The buildings eventually fell into disuse and was gradually dismantled until only four arches were left standing.

Two sets of excavations have been performed on the site, one in the late 19th century and one in 1970/80s, both of which have left the site properly exposed and preserved including one of only three surviving stone altar structures in Suffolk and gives us an insight into what this large, 46 metre, medieval church looked like.

The Blackfriars site is permanently open to the public. A short way up the road at Orwell place junction with Eagle Street was a flow of water that ran downhill towards the river and was on occasion so deep it needed stepping stones to avoid getting wet, hence Orwell Place was once called Stepples Street.
By Kathie Jones, Historic Ipswich (UK)