Castle Acre Priory Norfolk
Castle Acre Priory Norfolk near Kings Lynn was a Cluniac priory in the village of Castle Acre, Norfolk, England, dedicated to St Mary, St Peter, and St Paul. It is thought to have been founded in 1089 by William de Warenne the son of the 1st Earl of Surrey who had founded England’s first Cluniac priory at Lewes in 1077 Founded by the Warenne family soon after the Norman Conquest, for almost 450 years Castle Acre Priory in Norfolk was the home and workplace of monks and their servants, a refuge for pilgrims, and a stopping point for royalty, clergy and nobility. Full of History.
The Castle Acre Priory was also part of a vast monastic network centred on the great abbey of Cluny in France. Today the priory remains are among the finest and best-preserved monastic ruins in England. In the early 1070s William de Warenne – a Norman knight who had fought alongside William the Conqueror at Hastings – chose Acre in Norfolk as the headquarters for his East Anglian landholdings.
Full of history
One of the many Normans whose fortunes were transformed by the conquest of England, he had accumulated lands across the country, including an estate in Norfolk. There were also important Warenne estates centred on Lewes in Sussex (the family’s main English seat) and Conisbrough in Yorkshire. Within a few years of the Conquest, William de Warenne had built a castle at Acre, and between 1081 and 1085 he brought a small community of monks there from his earlier foundation at Lewes, which had been the first monastery of the Cluniac order in England. Read more…
Castle Acre Priory Norfolk Opening Times and Ticket Prices
Book Tickets Here. Castle Acre Priory Norfolk is open Sat – Sun 10:00 – 16:00. You now need to book timed-tickets in advance to visit Castle Acre Priory Norfolk. We have introduced limits on visitor numbers to help keep everyone safe, and you won’t be able to visit without your booking confirmation. If you’re a Member, your ticket will be free, but you still need to book in advance. The time shown on your ticket is the earliest you can arrive, and you can arrive at any point within an hour of that time. You’re then welcome to stay for as long as you like.
Castle Acre Priory Norfolk Prices are with and without donation. Adult £8.70 – £7.90 – Child (5-17 years) £5.20 – £4.70 – Concession £7.90 – £7.10 – Family (2 adults, up to 3 children) £22.60 – £20.50 – Family (1 adult, up to 3 children) £13.90 – £12.60. FURTHER PRICING DETAILS: Remember to bring your membership card with you when you visit. If you’ve lost it or forgotten it, call Customer Services on 0370 333 1181 (Monday to Saturday). Additional charges for members and non-members may apply on event days.
Book Your Tickets
Castle Acre Priory Plan
GROUP VISITS
Find all the information you need for your group visit, including discounts available, how to book, guided tour information (if applicable) and coach parking facilities. BOOKING INFORMATION – We provide great value with a 15% discount for groups of 11 or more visitors paying together. We also offer free entry for coach drivers and tour leaders. Contact the site for a Group Booking Form. Average length of visit – 2 hours. If you’re a group organiser or part of the travel trade, visit Group Travel Support for more information about organising group visits to our properties. You’ll also find our top property picks for groups and inspirational itineraries to help you plan your next trip. COACH PARKING – Spaces for 4 vehicles which must be booked in advance.
THINGS TO SEE AND DO
Castle Acre Priory Norfolk has amazing architecture – The dramatic and beautiful West Front was designed to emphasise the importance of the priory and it still impresses visitors today. Walk the ruins of the church including the Cloister and Chapter House before entering the Prior’s Lodgings and exploring the rooms inside. Castle Acre Priory Norfolk is perfect for a picnic – Enjoy the wonderful grounds as you pick your prefect picnic bench spot to stop for a bite with the gorgeous views of Castle Acre Priory for company. Let little ones run around and let off steam as there’s plenty of room in the grounds!
Castle Acre Priory Norfolk has an Interactive Exhibition – Visit the new stonework display in the Prior’s Lodgings and find out how churches were made in Norman times. Challenge yourself to have a go at the interactive exhibition to see if you have what it takes to be a medieval builder. Castle Acre Priory Family Trail – Grab a trail leaflet and meet Brother Odo as he helps guide you round Castle Acre Priory then out into the village to explore the Bailey Gate and Castle Acre Castle, both English Heritage free sites. Castle Acre was an important medieval village and this trail helps you imagine all the different jobs people did back then – whether they worked, fought or prayed.
See You Soon 🙂
The Priory was dissolved in 1557. Castle Acre Castle and Priory is lovely place to visit and even have a picnic on a nice day and we hope to see you soon.
Covid 19 measures are now relaxing and we hope to see you soon.
Say you found us on Visit Breckland.