Creake Abbey

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Creake Abbey
Abbey
Creake Abbey
Symbol
Country	England
State	Norfolk
Region	East of England
District	King's Lynn and West Norfolk
Municipality	North Creake
Founded	1231
Owner	Managed by English Heritage
Visitation	North of North Creake off B1,355 (All year round, Any reasonable time, Monday to Sunday)
Website: http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/server/show/nav.12428

Creake Abbey is a ruined abbey in Norfolk, England, situated alongside the River Burn and a mile to the north of the village of North Creake. The abbey church was dedicated to Saint Mary.

The site was originally occupied by an almshouse for the poor, and was founded by the Augustinians as a priory in the 12th century. Owing to its great wealth ^[1], the priory was promoted to become an abbey in 1231.

In the latter half of the 15th century, a fire swept through the abbey, damaging the church and several of the other buildings. The church was never fully restored. In 1506 an outbreak of the plague wiped out the monastic community except the abbot. The abbey site and estate was given to Lady Margaret Beaufort in 1507, and ended up in the ownership of Christ's College, Cambridge.

A few sections of the church walls remain standing, and demonstrate their traditional Norfolk flintwork. There are some remaining carved details in the window arches and doorways. However, little else survives apart from foundations. The site is now in the care of English Heritage, and freely accessible to the public.

[edit] References

• The Heritage Trail (1998-2005). Creake Abbey. Retrieved October 21, 2005.

1. ^ Buckley, Norman and June. Best Tea Shop Walks in Norfolk. Sigma Press, pp.20. 1850587027. 

[edit] External links

• Map sources for Creake Abbey
• Abbey Ruins
• Abbey Tower

Coordinates: 52.91994° N 0.75925° E