Remains of Priory of Our Lady of Thetford Including Prior's Lodging

REMAINS OF PRIORY OF OUR LADY OF THETFORD INCLUDING PRIOR'S LODGING, ABBEYGATE

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Overview

Heritage Category:
Listed Building
Grade:
I
List Entry Number:
1297875
Date first listed:
03-Apr-1951
List Entry Name:
Remains of Priory of Our Lady of Thetford Including Prior's Lodging
Statutory Address:
REMAINS OF PRIORY OF OUR LADY OF THETFORD INCLUDING PRIOR'S LODGING, ABBEYGATE
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Date:
2002-04-11
Reference:
IOE01/06660/20
Rights:
© Mr Derek E. Hull. Source: Historic England Archive

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Official list entry

Heritage Category:
Listed Building
Grade:
I
List Entry Number:
1297875
Date first listed:
03-Apr-1951
Date of most recent amendment:
01-Dec-1993
List Entry Name:
Remains of Priory of Our Lady of Thetford Including Prior's Lodging
Statutory Address 1:
REMAINS OF PRIORY OF OUR LADY OF THETFORD INCLUDING PRIOR'S LODGING, ABBEYGATE

The scope of legal protection for listed buildings

This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.

Unless the List entry states otherwise, it includes both the structure itself and any object or structure fixed to it (whether inside or outside) as well as any object or structure within the curtilage of the building.

For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.

Understanding list entries

Corrections and minor amendments

The scope of legal protection for listed buildings

This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.

Unless the List entry states otherwise, it includes both the structure itself and any object or structure fixed to it (whether inside or outside) as well as any object or structure within the curtilage of the building.

For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.

Understanding list entries

Corrections and minor amendments

Location

Statutory Address:
REMAINS OF PRIORY OF OUR LADY OF THETFORD INCLUDING PRIOR'S LODGING, ABBEYGATE

The building or site itself may lie within the boundary of more than one authority.

County:
Norfolk
District:
Breckland (District Authority)
Parish:
Thetford
National Grid Reference:
TL 86616 83369

Details

THETFORD

TL8683 ABBEYGATE 617-1/5/2 (North West side) 03/04/51 Remains of Priory of Our Lady of Thetford including Prior's Lodging (Formerly Listed as: Remains of Cluniac Priory, Abbey House grounds)

I

Cluniac priory. Founded 1103-4 by Roger Bigod in Church of St Mary the Greater, moved to present site 1107. Occupation of east end, transepts and north parts of east arm of cloister by 1114, remainder mostly by 1150. Lady chapel added early C13 and presbytery extended late C13. Disolved 1540. East window and other minor works by Thomas Aldrych, 1507-8. Flint with ashlar facing. No roofs. Plan based on that of Cluny II and Castle Acre: chevet east end, altered C13 . Twin west towers, 8 bays to aisled nave, cloister to south with conventional disposition of apartments. Infirmary to south-east late C12 with infirmary cloister added early C15. The whole is ruinous. Prior's Lodging extends west. Square free-standing lodging of c1300 to west was extended mid C14 to link with west front of priory. Flint with ashlar dressings. 2 storeys. Western lodge reduced by half but barrel-vaulted undercroft apparent, with transverse ribs. Main block with round re-used C12 arch on engaged columns with scalloped capitals, opposed by a north opening. West of arch is a pedestrian entrance with a roll-moulded re-used C12 arch with billet decoration and cushion capitals. This led to a staircase. Various C15 window embrasures remain and also mid C16 three-light brick cross-casements with chamfered surrounds. No roof. (Raby F J E: Thetford Priory: London: 1979-).

Listing NGR: TL8661683369

Legacy

The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.

Legacy System number:
384666
Legacy System:
LBS

Sources

Books and journals
Raby, F J E, Rigold, S E, Thetford Priory, (1979)

Legal

This building is listed under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 as amended for its special architectural or historic interest.

Ordnance survey map of Remains of Priory of Our Lady of Thetford Including Prior's Lodging

Map

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© Crown copyright [and database rights] 2026. OS AC0000815036. Use of this mapping is subject to Terms and Conditions.

End of official list entry

All text content is available under the Open Government Licence v3.0 , except where otherwise stated. Any supplied maps are © Crown Copyright [and database rights] 2026 OS AC0000815036 and may not be reproduced without permission.

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