St Benet's Abbey

St Benet's Abbey is a medieval monastic ruin site near the River Bure in Horning. The most striking feature is the stone gatehouse with an 18th-century windmill built directly into its structure, creating an unusual blend of different periods.

The monastery was founded in 801 and received substantial land grants from King Canute in 1022, strengthening its role as a religious center in medieval Norfolk. After Henry VIII's dissolution of the monasteries, it remained partially operational, making it the only one of its kind in Norfolk to survive in this way.

The Bishop of Norwich conducts an annual outdoor service at the ruins, keeping a connection between the local community and the site's monastic past. This tradition shows how the place still holds spiritual meaning for the region today.

The archaeological site offers free access throughout the year with information panels explaining the layout and function of the former monastic buildings. The grounds are easy to walk around, though the paths can be uneven in places where the foundations emerge from the earth.

The gatehouse was converted into a working grain mill in the 18th century, with builders inserting a windmill mechanism directly into the old monastic structure. This is a rare example of how buildings were repurposed after the monasteries were dissolved.