Hoxne Priory

Hoxne Priory comprises the surviving structures of a medieval monastic site located in two protected areas near the village center. Visible stone foundations and a network of fishponds reveal where buildings once stood and how the landscape was originally organized.

The site originated as a chapel connected to Saint Edmund's martyrdom and was later established as a dependent foundation of Norwich Cathedral. Over the centuries it underwent various changes that reflected shifts in its religious and economic importance.

The priory served as a working community where monks carried out their daily devotions alongside practical tasks essential to running the estate. The buildings functioned as both a place of prayer and a center for managing the surrounding agricultural lands and resources.

The site stands near Abbey Farmhouse and is accessible from the village roads that border the former monastic grounds. Visitors should wear sturdy footwear as the remains are spread across open land with uneven terrain.

Medieval records from later centuries detail the day-to-day infrastructure of the priory, listing separate buildings for specific functions such as baking and brewing. These documents reveal how specialized and compartmentalized monastic life actually was.