NHER 3492 (Monument record) - Flitcham Abbey or St Mary's Priory

Great house on remains of St Mary's Augustinian Priory. The Priory was founded in 1217.
Assessed by Department of Environment as equivalent of Grade II, but not listed as it is the property of the Royal Family.

1974.
Neolithic axe found.

1989.
Medieval masonry found during barn conversions.
Several large stone blocks carved in 15th century style. 13th century foliate cross coffin slab.

1994. Earthwork Survey.
Medieval sherds found in course of earthwork survey.
See report (S1) for plan and further details. The site was included in (S5) and the survey is also noted in (S6).
E. Rose (NLA) 29 August 1990.

Substantial earthworks remain in pasture field south of Flitcham Abbey Farm.
These appear to extend further east than the area outlined on NHER map.
Site form in file.
H. Paterson (A&E) March 1991.

Remains of 'sheep dip' brick revetted to west of pond feature south of farm buildings.
Shape remains easily identifiable, though masonry in need of restoration.
H. Paterson (A&E) 1992

March 2003. Site scheduled.
Information from (S2).
M. Horlock (NLA), 15 August 2003.

December 2003. Watching brief to monitor new fencing, creation of a pond and construction of two sluices.
Negative results.
H. Paterson (A&E) 15 September 2005.

2003 to 2005. Watching brief carried out on three separate occasions to monitor the digging of fence post holes. Excavation of pond and sluices, all with scheduled monument consent.
No artefacts or structures encountered.
See (S3).
H. Paterson (A&E), 16 September 2005.

The Priory church and cloister buildings lie underneath and around the present farmhouse, which dates to the early 19th century, incorporating some medieval work, and very thick walls in some parts of the house. The farm was part of the Holkham Estate, and the rear wing has a cast iron threshold to an external door marked 'Holkham Estate 1870'. The nearby barn dates to the early 18th century.
The buried remains of medieval monastic buildings, rectangular earthworks, and the remains of the medieval water management system of the Priory surround the farmhouse, within the Priory precinct, which can be traced in modern boundaries.
The Priory was founded in 1217 as a dependant cell of the Priory at Walsingham, and was dissolved in 1538.
See (S2) and (S4), although the building is no longer listed.
S. Spooner (NLA) 1 December 2005.

NIAS records:
During WWII the land around the abbey was used for breeding different varieties of flax plants for growth around Norfolk.
See (S5)
W. Arnold (HES), 14 Febuary 2011

February 2013. Monitoring during removal of collapsed sediment and creation of artificial Kingfisher burrows. No artefacts or features observed.
D. Robertson (HES), 27 April 2014.