Castle Acre Priory and Castle

The delightful village of Castle Acre boasts an extraordinary wealth of history and is a very rare and complete survival of a Norman planned settlement, including a castle, town, parish church and associated monastery.

The Priory is one of the largest and best preserved monastic sites in England dating back to 1090.  It was the home of the first Cluniac order of monks to England and the Cluniac love of decoration is everywhere reflected in the extensive ruins.

There is much to see at the priory, including the beautiful west end church gable, prior’s lodging and substantial remains of many of the buildings round the cloister. The recreated herb garden grows herbs which the monks would have used for medicinal, culinary and decorative purposes. Visitors can find out more about this beautiful priory from our exhibition, display of artefacts and audio tour.

The Castle was founded soon after the Conquest by the first William de Warenne and you can still view an immense system of ditched earthwortks – perhaps the finest village earthworks in England.