| Summary : St Mary the Great's Church was a Saxon minster. It is recorded in Domesday that the churches of St Martin, St Peter, St John and St Margaret, all in Thetford, were dependent on it. From 1072-1094, it was the Cathedral of East Anglia. It was converted for use as an Alien Cluniac Priory until 1114. The site was reused as a Dominican Friary in 1335 until dissolved in 1538. The Church of the Holy Trinity, founded in 1072, stood to the South of St Mary's. Important remains of this, the Dominican Church, are incorporated in school buildings. Part of West front and much of North aisle and South arch of the central tower remain. Largely 15th century but tower arch 14th century. Excavations in 1964 revealed the extent of the cloisters and the West range, the site being North of the church of St Mary the Great. |
More information : [TL 86788308] Site of [T.I.] St.Mary & Holy Trinity
Priory [G.T.] : [TL 86778307] Site of [T.I.] Church [G.T.] :
[TL 86758306] St.Mary & Holy Trinity Cathedral [G.T.] (Rems. of)
[T.I.] (1)
The parish church of St.Mary the Great, originally a Saxon church, afterwards became the cathedral of the see. Holy Trinity Church stood to the S. of the cathedral.
A Cluniac Priory was founded here in 1103-4 and dedicated to Holy Trinity, St. Mary and All Saints, but in 1114 the monks moved across the river to a new monastery [at TL 88 SE 54] A Dominican Friary was founded on the old site in 1335, dissolved 1538.
Today, the remains comprise the W.wall of an aisled church with tall wall arches and the N. wall of the N. aisle, again with wall arches, and a narrow tall arch out of the towered central space to the S. of 14th.C. construction. (2-4)
The remains are as described, the walling of flint and chalk, with stone dressings standing to a maximum height of 7.0m. The O.S. sitings for the Priory and a church (? Holy Trinity) fall within school playing fields. Published 1/2500 survey revised.
See AO/SER/67/5/7 (5)
Trenches for drains at the Grammar School revealed footings of Blackfriars Monastery, inhumation burials and domestic refuse including animal bones and medieval pottery. Excavations in 1964 revealed the extent of the cloisters and the W range, the site being N of the church of St Mary the Great. (6-7)
(TL 86788308) Remains of (NAT) Friary (NR) (Dominican) (NAT) (8)
1.
1720 TL 88 SE 62 BRIDGE STREET (North West Side)
Remains of Dominican Church at
Thetford Grammar School
TL 8683 1/8 3.4.51.
I
2.
Important remains of Dominican Church incorporated in school buildings. Part of West front and much of North aisle and South arch of the central tower. Flint, chunch and ashlar. Largely C15 but tower arch C14.
Additional bibliography. (9-11)
The site was investigated in 1998 by the Time Team (Channel 4 television programme). Excavations, buildings survey and geophysical survey were undertaken wwithin Thetford Grammar School and its grounds, primarily revealing further details of the layout of the Dominican Friary. Perambulation of the school grounds revealed no earthwork evidence. (12)
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