DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.6912#0017
CASTI/E-ACRE PRIORY.
9
of dissolution," in order to bring it within the first plunder. It was afterwards
granted by Henry VIII. to Thomas, Duke of Norfolk, whose son sold it to the
illustrious merchant Sir Thomas Gresham, who soon alienated it again to Thomas
Cecil (son of Lord Treasurer Burleigh,) afterwards Earl of Exeter, whose son,
the second Earl, sold it to his brother-in-law, Lord Chief-Justice Coke, from whom
it has descended lineally to the present proprietor.*
I shall divide my description into four parts, I. The church, and adjoining
buildings. 2. The cloister, and parts immediately or secondarily connected with it.
3. The prior's lodge, and adjoining building. 4. The detached offices, &c.
The first three of these are laid down in the accompanying plan in their several
proportions ; wbcre the walls or parts of walls actually existing, are represented in
black, and those which are no longer visible, by dotted lines. The whole clausum
contained above 30 acres, which was encompassed by a wall, even on the south side,
where a small river is the boundary.
First, The church and adjoining buildings.—The west front, of which a view is
given in the annexed plate, is by far the most conspicious and picturesque part of
the ruins. It is, indeed, a very noble Norman facade, and though not entire, there
is enough to convey a clear idea of its perfect state. The delineation of all the
members of it is so accurate, that it is unnecessary to describe them in detail. Per-
haps it is to be lamented, that the good brethren, who appear to have taken such
laudable care of their buildings, had not taste enough, in the age when great east
and west windows came into fashion, to resist the intrusion of one into the present
elevation : for here it certainly mars the original design, and breaks the harmony and
continuity of parts, in this superb front. It must, however, be admitted, that it is
not of such dimensions, as to occupy a space offensively disproportionate, which such
windows often do. It will be observed, that at the upper part of the south tower,
are two sharply pointed arches. There is a similar pair on each of the other sides,
not seen in the plate. It is probable that more of them extended upwards, as the
tower must have been originally higher by one or two tiers of arches.f The nave
* For other genealogical and manorial particulars, I refer to Blomefield (Hist, of Norfolk ;) whose industry and
fidelity in tracing the descent of families and property is well known.
t It seems of some importance, whenever it is possible, to settle the dates of such pointed arches as occur
before the regular pointed style came into use; more particularly when they are found in the same buildings with
round arches, and have similar columns and mouldings as the others; such are those in the Temple-church, erected
in 1172, and in that of St. Cross about 1130. I am not willing these at Castle-Acre should pass for authentic
specimens forty years older still, because I am well satisfied they were intermediate between the two I have men-
9
of dissolution," in order to bring it within the first plunder. It was afterwards
granted by Henry VIII. to Thomas, Duke of Norfolk, whose son sold it to the
illustrious merchant Sir Thomas Gresham, who soon alienated it again to Thomas
Cecil (son of Lord Treasurer Burleigh,) afterwards Earl of Exeter, whose son,
the second Earl, sold it to his brother-in-law, Lord Chief-Justice Coke, from whom
it has descended lineally to the present proprietor.*
I shall divide my description into four parts, I. The church, and adjoining
buildings. 2. The cloister, and parts immediately or secondarily connected with it.
3. The prior's lodge, and adjoining building. 4. The detached offices, &c.
The first three of these are laid down in the accompanying plan in their several
proportions ; wbcre the walls or parts of walls actually existing, are represented in
black, and those which are no longer visible, by dotted lines. The whole clausum
contained above 30 acres, which was encompassed by a wall, even on the south side,
where a small river is the boundary.
First, The church and adjoining buildings.—The west front, of which a view is
given in the annexed plate, is by far the most conspicious and picturesque part of
the ruins. It is, indeed, a very noble Norman facade, and though not entire, there
is enough to convey a clear idea of its perfect state. The delineation of all the
members of it is so accurate, that it is unnecessary to describe them in detail. Per-
haps it is to be lamented, that the good brethren, who appear to have taken such
laudable care of their buildings, had not taste enough, in the age when great east
and west windows came into fashion, to resist the intrusion of one into the present
elevation : for here it certainly mars the original design, and breaks the harmony and
continuity of parts, in this superb front. It must, however, be admitted, that it is
not of such dimensions, as to occupy a space offensively disproportionate, which such
windows often do. It will be observed, that at the upper part of the south tower,
are two sharply pointed arches. There is a similar pair on each of the other sides,
not seen in the plate. It is probable that more of them extended upwards, as the
tower must have been originally higher by one or two tiers of arches.f The nave
* For other genealogical and manorial particulars, I refer to Blomefield (Hist, of Norfolk ;) whose industry and
fidelity in tracing the descent of families and property is well known.
t It seems of some importance, whenever it is possible, to settle the dates of such pointed arches as occur
before the regular pointed style came into use; more particularly when they are found in the same buildings with
round arches, and have similar columns and mouldings as the others; such are those in the Temple-church, erected
in 1172, and in that of St. Cross about 1130. I am not willing these at Castle-Acre should pass for authentic
specimens forty years older still, because I am well satisfied they were intermediate between the two I have men-