Bromholm Priory
Bromholm Priory was a Cluniac priory founded in 1113 near Bacton, Norfolk, England. It gained prominence as a pilgrimage site due to its claim to possess a relic of the True Cross. The priory was suppressed in 1536, and today, only ruins of its gatehouse, Chapter House, and a transept remain.
Key Facts
- ›Founded in 1113 by William de Glanville.
- ›Originally subordinate to Castle Acre Priory until exempted in 1195.
- ›An important pilgrimage destination, claiming to hold a piece of the True Cross.
- ›Featured in Chaucer's 'the Reeve's Tale' and Langland's 'Vision of Piers Plowman'.
- ›Suppressed in 1536.
- ›The ruins include the gatehouse, Chapter House, and northern transept.
Ruins of Gatehouse, Ruins of Chapter House, Ruins of Northern Transept, Claimed Relic of the True Cross
Bacton Abbey, the Holy Cross of Bromeholme
William De Glanville, Pope Celestine Iii, King Henry Iii, Hubert De Burgh, Geoffrey Chaucer, William Langland, Paston Family
- Founded In 1113
- Exempted From Subordination By Pope Celestine Iii In 1195
- Visited By King Henry Iii In 1223
- Suppressed In 1536
- Central Tower Base Modified As A Pillbox In 1940
About Bromholm Priory
Bromholm Priory was a significant Cluniac monastic house situated in a coastal location near the village of Bacton in Norfolk, England. Founded in 1113 by William de Glanville, Lord of Bacton, it initially operated under the parentage of Castle Acre Priory. However, in 1195, Pope Celestine III granted the priory its exemption from Castle Acre's authority, marking an increase in its independence.
Pilgrimage and Literary Significance
The priory achieved considerable fame as an important object of pilgrimage, primarily because it claimed to possess a fragment of the True Cross. This relic, known as the 'holy cross of Bromeholme,' was purportedly brought from Constantinople by an anonymous English monk following the Fourth Crusade. Its veneration was such that it was referenced in seminal works of English literature, including Geoffrey Chaucer's 'The Reeve's Tale' and William Langland's 'Vision of Piers Plowman.' The priory also served as a benefice of the influential Paston family, whose correspondence provides historical insights.
Later History and Present Day
Bromholm Priory was suppressed in 1536 during the Dissolution of the Monasteries. All that now survives of the once-grand priory are the ruins of its gatehouse, Chapter House, and the northern transept of the Priory Church. In a more recent historical note, the base of the priory church's central tower was adapted in 1940 to function as a pillbox, highlighting the site's strategic importance during potential wartime invasions. Extensive visualisations of the priory's past appearance were created by members of the Paston Portal in 2019 and 2020.
Source: Wikipedia ↗
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Bromholm Priory known for?
Bromholm Priory is most famous for being an important pilgrimage site that claimed to possess a piece of the True Cross, brought from Constantinople. This relic was mentioned in prominent literary works like Chaucer's 'The Reeve's Tale'.
When was Bromholm Priory founded and by whom?
The priory was founded in 1113 by William de Glanville, who was the Lord of Bacton. It was originally affiliated with Castle Acre Priory.
What remains of Bromholm Priory today?
Today, only ruins remain of Bromholm Priory. These include the remains of the gatehouse, the Chapter House, and the northern transept of the Priory Church.
What was the religious order of Bromholm Priory?
Bromholm Priory belonged to the Cluniac order, a monastic order that followed the Rule of Saint Benedict. It was originally subordinate to Castle Acre Priory, another Cluniac house.
Was Bromholm Priory visited by royalty?
Yes, King Henry III visited Bromholm Priory in 1223. He reportedly came to take the holy waters and venerate the priory's relics.
Related Monasteries
Aldgate Priory
Holy Trinity Priory, also known as Christchurch Aldgate, was an Augustinian priory founded around 1108 by Queen Matilda of Scotland near Aldgate in London. It held significant ties to English royalty, with several queens maintaining a close relationship with the priory and some royal children buried there. The priory was a center of learning in the 12th century and played a role in civic life, with its prior serving as an Alderman of London. It was dissolved in 1532 and its buildings have since been largely lost, with only remnants surviving.
Ankerwycke Priory
Ankerwycke Priory was a small and relatively poor Benedictine nunnery established around 1160 in Buckinghamshire, England. Dedicated to St. Mary Magdalene, it held lands across several counties. Dissolved in 1536, its revenues were transferred to Bisham Abbey, and the priory site later saw the construction of a manor house. Today, only a small section of ruins remains, situated in Berkshire.
Arthington Priory
Arthington Priory was an English monastery for nuns of the Cluniac congregation, located in Arthington, West Yorkshire, and founded in the mid-12th century. It was one of only two Cluniac nunneries in England. The priory experienced periods of disciplinary issues among its nuns and prioresses, as documented by Archbishop William Greenfield's visits and injunctions. Following the Dissolution of the Monasteries under Henry VIII, the priory was surrendered in 1540, and its lands were eventually granted to Archbishop Thomas Cranmer. Today, little remains of the original priory structures, with a residence known as Arthington Hall built on the site around 1585, and the priory church potentially occupied by a farmhouse named The Nunnery.