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Creake Abbey

Creake Abbey

Creake Abbey is a ruined abbey in Norfolk, England, situated alongside the River Burn and a mile to the north of the village of North Creake. The abbey church was dedicated to Saint Mary.

The site was originally occupied by an almshouse for the poor, and was founded by the Augustinians as a priory in the 12th century. Owing to its great wealth, the priory was promoted to become an abbey in 1231.
In the latter half of the 15th century, a fire swept through the abbey, damaging the church and several of the other buildings. The church was never fully restored. In 1506 an outbreak of the plague wiped out the monastic community except the abbot. The abbey site and estate was given to Lady Margaret Beaufort in 1507, and ended up in the ownership of Christ’s College, Cambridge.

A few sections of the church walls remain standing, and demonstrate their traditional Norfolk flintwork. There are some remaining carved details in the window arches and doorways. However, little else survives apart from foundations. The site is now in the care of English Heritage, and freely accessible to the public.