Creake Abbey

Creake Abbey is an Augustinian monastery in Norfolk built with local flint stone, now showing partial walls and carved window arches from its original medieval structure. The ruins sit beside the River Burn, and the grounds share space with contemporary facilities including a cafe and independent shops that blend heritage and present-day use.

The site started in 1201 as an almshouse and became an abbey by 1231 through gifts from nearby families, establishing itself as a religious center. In 1506 a disease swept through the community and eliminated all the monks, leading to the abbey's eventual abandonment.

Today the site hosts local gatherings and monthly farmers markets where people from the surrounding villages come to buy regional food and crafts. These regular events have transformed the ruins into a meeting place where the area's contemporary life unfolds alongside its ancient past.

Entry is free and the grounds have wheelchair-accessible paths plus grassed parking for vehicles. On-site facilities including a cafe and shops make it easy to spend several hours exploring at your own pace.

In 1506 a severe outbreak swept through the monastery and killed every monk one after another, with the abbot being the last to die. This sudden end to monastic life left the ruins that visitors encounter today.