Thetford Priory

The remains of The Cluniac Priory of Our Lady of Thetford

The Cluniac Priory of Our Lady, Thetford, was first founded on the Suffolk side of the Little Ouse river by Roger Bigod in the early twelfth century during the reign of Henry I. Bigod founded the Priory instead of making a pilgrimage to the Holy Land.

Approach from the south

View of the remains of choir arch from the north

View across the Lady Chapel from the north.

Late15th- or early 16th-century spiral stairway.

Position of the vault at the centre of the presbytery for Thomas Howard, who died in 1524, and whose funeral, celebrated with enormous pomp, lasted two days. Thomas Howard, Earl of Surrey and second Duke of Norfolk, led Henry VIII’s troops to victory against the Scots at Flodden field in 1513. The Flodden helmet, the funerary helm of Thomas Howard is in the church of St Michael, Framlingham. The presbytery vault has been filled with sand, but a cross-section drawing of it exists from excavations in 1938.

Anne Howard née Plantagenet, Countess of Surrey, the the fifth daughter of King Edward IV, aunt to Henry VIII and first wife of Thomas the third Duke, was also initially buried in the priory church c.1511.

North-east corner of the lady chapel

North transept viewed from the south

North transept apsidal chapel, facing east.

The probably site, north of the north transept, of the tomb of John Howard who had died fighting for Richard III at Bosworth. In 1483 John Howard was created Duke of Norfolk by Richard III in return for his military and political support and Priory remained associated with the Howard Dukes of Norfolk until the Dissolution. Renaissance sculptured fragments, similar to the tombs for the Howard family in Framlingham church were discovered during excavation. The tomb of Thomas Howard, third Duke of Norfolk, stands immediately to the south of the high altar at the church of St Michael the Archangel, Framlingham, and it is known that there are three male bodies interred in the tomb. As the Howard family remains were removed to Framlingham after the dissolution of Thetford Priory, it is assumed that the third duke’s tomb contains his remains and those of his father, Thomas, and his grandfather, John, and the tomb may incorporate some parts of the tombs from Thetford. Thetford Priory was also the original resting place for Henry Fitzroy, illegitimate son of Henry VIII, in 1536. The 3rd Duke of Norfolk’s daughter had married Fitzroy. The last Norfolk burial was in 1537 and was that of Thomas Howard, a younger son of the 3rd Duke.