| THE
CARMELITE FRIARY
The Carmelites managed
to establish themselves in Esslingen in The 1270's, despite the
opposition of the parish and of the longer established Mendicant
Orders. In 1281 the Carmelites were finallly given grudging
permission by the Cathedral Chapter in Speyer to build a convent
on a plot of land which had been given to them just outside the
city walls in a developing suburb, under severely restricting
conditions. They were forbidden to perform burials, hear
confessions or write wills without the express permission of the
parish priest. Thus financially compromised, the first Carmelite
convent consisted only of a small church and several timber-framed
houses. |
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These modes buildings were
only replaced after their destruction by fire, at a time when the
Carmelites had successfully consolidated their position and rights
in Esslingen. The fire is historically recorded as having taken
place in 1455. After this the Friary was rebuilt on a grander scale,
with the typical monastic layout. Financial problems delayed the
completion of the complex until 1490, and in 1532 the friary was
dissolved as the Reformation took hold in Esslingen. The buildings
were taken over by the city in 1556, first the church, then the
other buildings were gradually pulled down until by 1800 the friary
had largely disappeared. The area was lightly built over with
artisan's workshops, later these were demolished to make way for a
car park. Tody, after the excavations, the extension to the
Technical College stand on the old friary land. |
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