Thorney Abbey

Thorney Abbey is a Benedictine monastery in the Fens of Cambridgeshire whose church now serves as the Parish Church of St Mary and St Botolph. The complex displays Norman architectural features with surviving stone walls and arches that date back to the medieval period.

The abbey was founded in 970 on the site of a 7th-century hermitage settlement. It was dissolved in 1539 as part of Henry VIII's monastery dissolution.

The monastery served as a center of religious learning, where Benedictine monks maintained manuscripts and practiced traditional monastic disciplines according to their order.

The church is open during daylight hours and can be visited without restriction. The site sits in the flat landscape of the Fens and is easily accessible on foot.

Excavations in 2002 uncovered painted glass fragments and pottery from the 13th and 14th centuries. These discoveries reveal details about the daily life and crafts of medieval monks who lived here.

Location: Thorney

Inception: 970

GPS coordinates: 52.62040,-0.10720

Latest update: December 9, 2025 18:44