St Benet’s Abbey

A unique place of interest that is well worth a visit

St Benet’s Abbey, Holme, Norfolk

Whilst away for a few days in Norfolk, we took a small boat along the River Ant, traveling from Sutton all the way along to Horning.

St Benet’s Abbey, Holme, Norfolk

We stopped off at the Abbey of St Benet at Holme, which is situated deep in the Broads, and marks the place where the rivers Bure and Ant meet.

St Benet’s Abbey, Holme, Norfolk

The Abbey dates back to the 9th century, and although it was one of the wealthiest Benedictine sites at the time, after the Dissolution, fell into disrepair and remained in ruins from 18th century.

Looking up through the old windmill inside the abbey

King Henry VIII appointed Bishop Reppes as Abbot, granting him further properties as part of the abbey in exchange for land owned by Diocese of Norwich. But the new bishops plundered the site as the stone used for building the abbey was considered valuable. The last monk left in 1545.

Front view of the remains of St Benet’s Abbey showing the windmill inside

Founded by St Benedict of Nursia, considered the founder of Western monasticism, the abbey was once a central part of life in the local area.

Side view of the abbey showing some of the ruined walls

This was the only Norfolk monastery that was founded in the Anglo-Saxon period and continued to be in use throughout the Middle Ages.

Exterior view of the windmill built into the abbey

After 1750s a local farmer built a windmill inside the abbey walls, which gives it a quite unique look.

The base of the cross is inscribed with the word Peace and there are coins pushed into the wood of the cross.

The cross, erected in 1987 is made from wood taken from the King’s estate at Sandringham, marks the former site of the high altar of the abbey. Quite a few coins have been pressed into it since

A view of the abbey showing some of the ruined exterior walls visible from the wooden cross

St Benet’s Abbey was the only monastery in England that was not closed down by Henry VIII as part of the Dissolution.

View of the wooden cross from within the exterior walls of the abbey.

As well as being of great historical interest, St Benet’s Abbey is also very atmospheric and you can see why for over 200 years it has been a favourite spot for artists, photographers and tourists.

View of the abbey as you walk towards it along the path from the river Ant.

It’s well worth a visit whether you take a boat out for the day, or drive directly there or even take one of the many walks that take you past this rather unique and fascinating historical site.

View from the abbey towards the river Ant across the Broads.

I hope you have enjoyed some of my photos taken during our visit. I have used quite a grainy edit on these photos as I feel it best presents the abbey and is surroundings on what was a rather cold, cloudy and windy day.

You can find a lot more information here about the abbey as I have tried to cover only the basic information for my post.

Take care

Dawud