Thetford is traditionally thought of as the royal residence of Boudica Queen of the Iceni. The Iceni were a Celtic tribe living in Norfolk and parts of Cambridgeshire. Archaeological evidence suggests that Thetford was an important tribal center during the late Iron Age and early Roman period. A ceremonial "grove" was uncovered there during excavation. In 1979 a hoard of Roman-British metalwork known as the "Thetford Treasure" was located just outside of Thetford. Dating from the Mid 4th century AD, this hoard is a collection of 33 inscribed spoons, 20 gold finger rings, 4 pendants, several necklaces and a 2" gold buckle depicting a dancing satyr.
The town of Thetfords importance as a religious center started when the East Anglian bishopric moved there in 1071. 22 medieval churches were located in Thetford during its heyday. It resulted in the building of 12 other religious houses. The Priory of Our Lady of Thetford was established by Roger Bigod. Roger Bigod was a friend of William the Conqueror and had accompanied him throughout the Norman invasion of 1066, but his community of Cluniac monks in a remote Norfolk village were a more peaceful affair altogether. It was Bigod, who by now was an old man who founded Thetford Priory and who laid the foundation stone of the new church in September 1107 before he died the following week.
12 Cluniac monks, who came from Lewes priory in Sussex staffed it. Originally it was located south of the River Thet and took in the church of St. Mary (once the diocese cathedral). In 1107 a site North of the river was chosen by Prior Stephen due to overcrowding. By this time 20 monks lived at the priory. In 1114 the new church was completed while construction of the other buildings and cloister continued throughout the 12 century.
A Lady Chapel was built in the early 13th century on the North side of the church. The legend surrounding the building of the chapel states that the Virgin Mary appeared to a local craftsman to say he would be cured of illness if he told the monks to build this chapel. Pilgrims wanting to be rid of their illnesses put the priory on their visitation list after the building of the chapel. The money they brought paid for a rebuilding of the priory church in the late 13th century.
The priory was dissolved in 1540 when the King Henry VIII's Commissioners took it from the prior and 16 monks. The site was robbed of much of its carved stone and flint. Today the priory site is in ruins. On the grounds can be seen the remains of the early 12th century church and its Nave, side aisles, the quire, the transepts, and the Lady Chapel. Parts of the cloister, domestic buildings, and chapter house are visible. To the Southeast are the ruins of the infirmary and two story priors lodgings. The gatehouse is Northwest on the grounds of Abbey House. It is faced with knapped flint. Also surviving as ruins is the priory of the Holy Sepulchre and the remains of a Dominican Friary on the grounds of Thetford school, and the Benedictine church of St. George's Nunnery south of Nunn's Bridges.
Well I hope you enjoyed today's history lesson. Until next time kiddies!!!
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