Castle Acre Priory facts for kids
The extant remains of Castle Acre Priory church
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 Location in Norfolk
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| Monastery information | |
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| Order | Benedictine |
| Established | 1089 |
| Disestablished | 1537 |
| People | |
| Founder(s) | William de Warenne, 2nd Earl of Surrey |
| Site | |
| Location | Castle Acre, Norfolk, England |
| Coordinates | 52°42′1.9″N 0°41′0.8″E / 52.700528°N 0.683556°E |
Castle Acre Priory was a special kind of monastery called a Cluniac priory. It was located in the village of Castle Acre, Norfolk, England. This priory was dedicated to St Mary, St Peter, and St Paul.
It was started in 1089 by William de Warenne, 2nd Earl of Surrey. His father had already founded England's first Cluniac priory in Lewes in 1077. The Cluniac order of monks came from a region called Burgundy.
The priory was first built inside the walls of Castle Acre Castle. But this spot was too small for the monks. So, about a year later, the priory moved to its current location in the castle grounds.
The priory was closed down in 1537. Today, its old ruins are looked after by English Heritage. This group also cares for the nearby Castle Acre Bailey Gate and Castle Acre Castle.
Contents
What Was Castle Acre Priory Like?
The church at Castle Acre Priory was officially opened between 1146 and 1148. The Warenne family, who started the priory, gave a lot of money to it. Other people also gave generous gifts, like Scolland of Bedale. He was an important steward and was buried at the priory.
Like other Cluniac monasteries, Castle Acre Priory had to follow the rules of the Abbot of Cluny. This abbot was a leader in Burgundy. Because of the distance, the Prior of Lewes often helped manage things at Castle Acre.
Challenges with Foreign Rule
Being controlled by a foreign abbot caused problems for the priory. This happened when the kings of England were not getting along with France or Burgundy. In the mid-1300s, the English Cluniac monasteries solved this. They bought a special legal recognition from the king. This made them "native" English religious houses.
About 20 to 30 monks lived at the priory.
The Church Building
The main part of the church, called the nave, is one of the oldest parts of the ruins you can see today. More parts were added to the priory over time.
The priory was eventually closed down in 1537. This happened under King Henry VIII. The King gave the priory and its lands to the Duke of Norfolk. The monks who lived there had to leave.
The lands eventually went to Sir Edward Coke. Today, his family, the Earl of Leicester, owns the ruins and Castle Acre Castle.
The ruins are still very impressive. The large west front of the building is almost complete. The prior's lodging, where the head monk lived, is also in good condition.
Castle Acre Priory in Movies and TV
Castle Acre Priory has been used as a filming location!
- Some early scenes of the classic horror movie The Tomb of Ligeia (from 1964) were filmed here.
- It was also used in the popular children's TV show Knightmare. In the show, it was called "The Ruins of Dungarth."
- The priory also appears in the film Glorious 39.
