Thetford, Priory of
THETFORD, PRIORY OF
The Cluniac foundation of St. Mary's, established directly under Cluny, 1103–04, by Roger Bigod with 13 monks from lewes, inhabiting the former cathedral at Thetford, Norfolk, in the new Diocese of Norwich. The abbey moved to new buildings in 1114 and acquired the dependencies of Horkesley and Wangford. After a period of disorders (1240–48), it was revived by a discovery of relics, and its numbers increased to about 22. A new Lady Chapel was built. On two occasions (1237, 1300), the Bigod patrons disputed the abbot of Cluny's authority, and from 1376, the priory was denizen and almost independent. Its income in 1535 was £ 312. The Duke of Norfolk planned to convert it to a collegiate church, but it was suppressed in 1540. Lesser Thetford priories were held by Augustinian canons (Holy Sepulchre) and Benedictine nuns (St. George's).
Bibliography: t. martin, The History of the Town of Thetford (London 1779), appendixes. g. r. c. davis, Medieval Cartularies of Great Britain: A Short Catalogue (New York 1958) 110. The Victoria History of the County of Norfolk, ed. h. a. doubleday and w. page, 2 v. (Westminster, England 1901–06) 2:354–356, 363–369, 391–393. f. j. e. raby, The Cluniac Priory, Thetford, Norfolk: Official Guide (London 1935).
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