Thetford Priory is a Cluniac monastic house in Thetford, Norfolk, England. Founded in 1103 by Roger Bigod of Norfolk, Thetford was one of the most important monasteries of East Anglia. It should not be confused with the Dominican Friary of Blackfriars, Thetford that later became part of Thetford Grammar School.
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If you are looking for an opportunity to join the Cluniac Order and become a monk you have left it five centuries too late: Henry VIII and Thomas Cromwell did for this place at The Dissolution despite the best efforts of the Dukes of Norfolk.
As such the place has fallen in to ruins: if however you seek picturesque decay and to ruminate on mortality amidst the fallen splendours of the past, or snog your partner somewhere a bit pretty, or drink White Lightning from the bottle it is probably first rate.
My own interest comes from a ghost experience I had with four others here in 1987: it was certainly a high strangeness event. Luckily it was in broad daylight, given the ruins shut at 6pm Summer and 4pm winter. Still if you are visiting Thetford take the time to stroll round, and if you see the ghost let ASSAP know. (Google it!)
This visit was rather poignant - as I was describing the ghostly monk one appeared - in trainers. A couple of excellent Thetford folks doing a photography assignment they were awesome and the timing was perfect.
Thetford Priory has a long and interesting history, check out the Ancient House museum to learn more. The site today is a pleasant park, and a...
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What a wonderful place, and such a lovely surprise. I'd gone to Thetford to see the ruins of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre but as I managed to look around that in roughly 15 minutes, I had a look to see what else was nearby, and stumbled upon this gem! Dating back to the early 1100s, the ruins really show you how huge a place the monastery was. Not as big as the Abbey at BStE but still very impressive. There are some gorgeous details preserved and the information boards displayed around the site are great and really give you an idea of what the place was like. Don't forget to visit the gatehouse, it's signposted. It might not seem worth it but trust me, its stunning and not to be missed. It's easy to get around for the most part, though not through some of the interior. There isn't a shop or any amenities that I saw, but plenty of room to sit and have a picnic. Sadly, some disrespectful souls think it appropriate to leave their litter, I kindly ask that you take any with you when...
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The Thetford Priory is an interesting place as it used to be a church before Henry the eighth who had cut off from the Catholic Church in Rome, and declared himself head of the Church of England. His intention in destroying the monastic system was both to reap its wealth and to suppress political opposition.
This church happened to be one of the churches that were destroyed, it's a free place to visit and it's soaked in history. You can see the different surviving architect that is left behind and you can almost paint a picture of what this place looked like before.
I thought this was a great visit, and I could use my camera to take pictures so it's a good place to practice photography. I felt it was safe and it's nice to be up close to the buildings and being able to analyse the different buildings...
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