Thetford Priory is dedicated to the Virgin Mary or Our Lady as she is said to have appeared to local residents. The priory became a magnet to pilgrims due to a statue of Our Lady of Thetford having a hollow in the head to house saints' relics.
Like many other monasteries Thetford Priory seccumbed to the eventual closure caused by the dissolution of the Monasteries. Even though the Monastery housed many tombs from the early Tudor dynasty officials including several members of the Howard family including that of Henry FitzRoy (1st Duke of Richmond and Somerset)
Having visited this site on a sunny day, it was lovely to leisurly walk around the ruins investigating. The overall size of the complex would suggest that it was a very rich and powerful monastic house at the height of its use. The lower walls of the church and cloister can be seen along with an extensive and impressive shell of the Prior's lodging. Unfortunately during my visit I was not able to get through to the reportedly almost complete 14th century gatehouse as the pathway appears to run through a private garden. However I plan to return to see if I can approach the gatehouse from the otherside during a visit to the Holy Sepulchre Church which is about 300 metres away to the south.
It is reported that the Priory at Thetford is haunted however I had no such feeling during my visit.
Today the site is open to the public and is under the care of English Heritage.
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