Thetford Priory
The above coordinates will bring you to a small parking area. There all many other free parking areas in the town also.
The Priory of Our Lady of Thetford was one of the largest and most important monasteries in medieval East Anglia. Founded in the early 12th century, for 400 years it was the burial place of the Earls and Dukes of Norfolk, and enjoyed their powerful protection. It was because of this that Thetford was one of the last monasteries to be suppressed when it surrendered to Henry VIII's commissioners in 1540.The extensive surviving remains include the lower walls of the church and cloister, together with the impressive shell of the prior's lodging and an almost complete 14th century gatehouse.The essential plan of the monastery was established by the founder, Roger Bigod, a close associate of William the Conqueror. He laid the foundation stone of the priory on 1 September 1107 just outside the medieval town walls of Thetford on a spacious and level site beside the river.
Work on the church began in 1107 and the presbytery (east end) was probably complete by 1114. The nave, however, was probably not finished for another 60 years. In 1114 work was sufficiently advanced for the community of monks to enter their new home. These 12th-century monastic structures were adapted and extended throughout the Middle Ages.Following the typical monastic layout, the buildings were arranged around a central cloister which was enclosed on each side by covered walkways. The cloister walks gave access to all the main rooms used by the monks, including the church, the refectory (dining room), dormitory and chapter house, the formal meeting chamber of the community. Extending beyond the core of the monastery were the infirmary, with its own smaller cloister, and the prior’s lodgings. There were also various free-standing buildings associated with the running of the monasteries estates, such as barns and stables. The whole complex was enclosed by a wall and entered through a gatehouse.
In Order to claim this virtual cache you need to answer the following questions:
Question 1 The Priory notice board (waypoint 1 - N52 24.976 E000 44.620)
Which Great Abbey was the Priory affiliated to?
Question 2 – The Tomb (Waypoint 2 - N 52° 25.004 E 0° 44.584)
Who's Tomb can be found here?
Question 3 - The Church & Nave (Waypoint 3 - N 52° 25.010 E 0° 44.534)
In which year was the reconstruction of the Nave interior?
Question 4 - The Refectory - (Waypoint 4 - N 52° 24.980 E 0° 44.531)
Each of the Monks would have been given which 3 items at the table?
Optional - Please take a photograph of your GPS/ caching name or a thumbs up etc, in front of the Priory Wall or grounds.
Please do not put the answers to the questions in your log or include photos that will give them away. You do not have to wait for a reply from me before logging, I will contact you if there are any problems. Any logs that haven't sent answers are liable to be deleted - so please don't forget!
Hope you enjoy caching and your visit to the area.
Parking: There is a small free car park near the site entrance (not managed by English Heritage).
Opening Times: The priory is open daily from 10am to 6pm from April to September, and from 10am to 4pm from October to March. Subject to change
Access: The main path into and through the site is surfaced, and is suitable for buggies and wheelchairs. Access to other areas is over closely mown grass.
Facilities: There are no facilities at the priory but it is close to the centre of Thetford so there are public toilets, shops and places to eat nearby.
Dogs: Dogs on leads are welcome.
Please be aware: Climbing on the ruins is prohibited.
Drone flying: English Heritage does not permit drone flying from or over sites in our care, except by contractors or partners undertaking flights for a specific purpose, who satisfy stringent CAA criteria, have the correct insurances and permissions, and are operating under controlled conditions
Virtual Rewards 3.0 - 2022-2023
This Virtual Cache is part of a limited release of Virtuals created between March 1, 2022 and March 1, 2023. Only 4,000 cache owners were given the opportunity to hide a Virtual Cache. Learn more about Virtual Rewards 3.0 on the Geocaching Blog.