| Summary : The standing and buried remains of a Benedictine priory dedicated to the Blessed Virgin and St Catherine. It was founded in about 1150 by Roger de Scales and his wife Muriel. Originally it was a monastery for men, but when the grant was confirmed and extended by Robert de Scales, the son of the founders, it was functioning as a double house, with a community comprising both monks and nuns. Subsequently, in 1200, it was assigned to the sole use of Benedictine nuns, and continued as a nunnery until the Dissolution in 1537. The standing ruins include the south wall of the nave of the church measuring 30 metres in length and up to 5 metres in height and built of carstone. Evidence for the foundations of the church and its internal structure will survive elsewhere below the ground surface. The conventual buildings, including the chapter house, the dorter and the refectory are believed to have adjoined the church on the south side and were probably ranged around a cloister. To the south of the probable area of the cloister, is the south gable end wall of a substantial medieval building built of carstone with limestone dressings. Situated between 25-53 metres further to the south of the cloister area, a spread of building materials, including brick and tile, marks the site of what were probably agricultural, industrial or domestic servive buildings attached to the priory. East of these buildings is an array of five fishponds. Sheduled. |
More information : TF 67341405. Remains of (NAT) Priory of St Mary and St
Catherine (NR) (Benedictine Nuns) (NAT).
TF 67341411. Church (NR) (site of) (NAT). (1)
The priory was founded circa 1150 originally for monks but a later
extension of the grant in King Stephen's reign showed the
establishment supported both sexes. The house was finally assigned
in circa 1200 for the sole use of Benedictine Nuns. The convent
consisted of a Prioress and 10 nuns and was dissolved in 1537.
Parts of the building may still be seen adjoining Priory Farm in the
form of some carstone walling at TF 67311410 probably part of the
church and a gable end of a building at TF 67331405. In digging
among the foundations in 1834, 3 stone and 2 wooden coffins were
discovered in a vault, these contained skeletons, one of which was
said to be of a man 7 feet tall. A number of tesselated pavements, a
gold seal and other antiquities were found at the same time. Later,
circa 1870, a stone coffin containing a skeleton was dug up and is
now in King's Lynn Museum. (2-6)
Some fragmentary remains of the priory survive in pasture to the
east of Priory Farm (circa 19th century).
They comprise a length of car-stone walling up to floor joist
height, (adjoining contemporary farm buildings) and a gable end with
single lancet window and supporting buttresses (circa late 12th /
early 13th century), built of car-stone with stone dressings. See
photographs.
Ground disturbance centred TF 67321401 may indicate the site of
other buildings. Bones, glazed tile, brick and roofing tile are
visible in tree hollows and a general debris scatter is visible over
the area.
Earthworks associated with the priory are visible in pasture to the
south of the Country Drain (modern re-cut dyke). These comprise a
series of five fishponds with connecting ditches; they average 26.0m
long by 7.0m wide and 0.5m deep.
The published site of the church is now under the plough. No
indication of foundations was seen on the surface, though a debris
scatter is visible.
Surveyed at 1:2500. (7)
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