Tuesday, July 28, 2015

Castle Acre

In this post I'm taking you back to Norfolk where we spent a few days at the end of June.  There are still a couple of places that I want to record, I've already written a post on Castle Rising and Pensthorpe Waterfowl Gardens so next up is Castle Acre.  It is a lovely village and boasts the ruins of both a Priory and a Castle and we visited both.

It was quite a warm day - seems like a dream after the weather we've been experiencing lately - but warm it was.  We were the first visitors to arrive at the Priory ruins that day so, like we did with Castle Rising, had the place to ourselves for about half an hour which was good for taking photographs without feeling I was in anyone's way.

Both the Castle and the Priory were built by the de Warenne family.  William de Warenne was a Norman Knight who fought at the Battle of Hastings built the castle and his son and other descendants founded the Priory towards the end of the 11th century.  Here is a - link - to more of its history.
 

The West front of the Priory church which even in ruins is very impressive in length and height.  The monks at Castle Acre Priory were members of the Cluniac order and they were noted for their seven assemblies each day which were very elaborate with processions, masses, songs and prayer, for which this long elegant church must have been an inspirational backdrop.

The outer entrance porch to the right of the photos and the Prior's Lodgings

The Nave of the Priory Church showing part of the 15th century west window.

The steps would have led to the monk's dormitory on the first floor

The latrine block - the infirmary would have been above this

A side view of the Prior's Lodgings

A view of the Priory ruins from the Brew House, the priory had its own kitchens, fishponds, brew house, bakery, water mill and barn and as you wander around you can spot where these would have been.

You can stand on the little balcony above as you go inside the Prior's Lodgings.

Underneath the West range which contains the Prior's Lodgings which include a study and a private chapel.

The Prior's Study

Above some of the smaller architectural details I spotted on the way round the ruins

As you enter the visitor centre and entrance you pass by the herb garden which is tucked away at the side.  It was in a very pretty courtyard with herbs set in four sections for use in the Priory - herbs for strewing, healing, decorative and culinary uses.  There were many herbs and scented geraniums for sale too and I'd meant to go back to have a better look before moving on to the castle, but I changed my mind as I was so tempted to buy plants and we couldn't have looked after them on our travels.



The castle is a fine example of a motte and bailey castle and the inner and outer baileys are clearly still very well defined.  You can walk through the village from the Priory to the Castle or the other way round of course as there is ample parking at both places.  We decided to take the car with us as we wanted to have a picnic lunch at the castle and it seemed easier to take it with us.

The inner bailey on the hill

From the walkway above castle walls you can see where the main entrance to the castle would have been.  Above is what remains of the west gate.

In my next 'return to Norfolk' post I want to tell you about Oxburgh Hall, but there may be another Five on Friday and the July Scavenger Hunt before then.  I still have some photos to get for the scavenger hunt as I'm struggling a bit with it for some reason.




19 comments:

  1. Looks like a lovely place to spend the day. I wonder why we don't 'strew' herbs anymore! I would have been tempted by the plants for sale too. I love the steps that would have led to the Monk's dormitory. I have a thing for steps worn in the middle from countless walks taken up them! x

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    1. I love the thought of 'strewing' herbs across the floor so different from the way we keep floors clean now. I like the steps too:)

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  2. Such interesting buildings, especially the intricate windows and arches. I have to avoid plant sales areas too when we are travelling, so easy to pick up a few things isn't it! xx

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    1. I could have filled the car with plants from Castle Acre they had so many lovely ones and the other temptation was in the village a huge charity book shop!:)

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  3. Great post, super photos. This looks a great place to visit.

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  4. Your photos are beautiful, so full of atmosphere.
    Amalia
    xo

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  5. What great photos. I love that curved window (it's not an oriel is it?)

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    1. I've checked the guide book and it calls the window a bay window, apparently added in the early 16th century - before the Dissolution I expect. I wonder if they call it a bay as it's support is at ground level and not a shorter under window corbel?:)

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    2. oops - I mean its not it's:)

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  6. I've barely given the scavenger hunt a thought as July has been a busy month... I'm hoping I've got it pretty much covered but I've not yet had time to sit and sort through all the photos I've taken! I'd better get on to that very soon!

    This looks a brilliant place to visit, plenty to explore!

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    1. Lots to do in the village too - it's a lovely place - we spoke to some people who were camping nearby - well 'glamping'.. I'm struggling with two or three topics on the hunt mainly because I'm not getting out and about because of the weather and my brain isn't feeling very imaginative either:)

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  7. We really must pay a visit next time we are in Norfolk

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    1. I think you'd like it Elaine - the village is pretty too and the surrounding countryside:)

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  8. It must have looked very impressive in it's day judging by the decoration on the exterior walls and I rather like that bay window precariously propped on a column. Looking forward to the next chapter! :-)

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    1. The window is lovely isn't it? from the inside too:)

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  9. This is just my kind of day out, Rosie, thank you. The weather here is stopping me getting out, too - we almost lit the fire last Friday but resisted on principle. x

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    1. My feet were so cold the other day but I refused to wear socks in July! Castle Acre is a lovely place and you could easily spend quite a few hours there:)

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