Local Learning

Castle Acre

Castle Acre is a rare and complete survival of a Norman planned settlement, including a castle, village, parish church and one of the best preserved monastic sites in England.

The priory is a selected site for the AQA GCSE History exam in 2022, for students studying 'The historic environment of Norman England (c.1066-c.1100)'.

Use our suggested activities, reading and video resources to explore this historic area, developed by the Warenne family in the 11th and 12th centuries. 

An aerial watercolour by Liam Wales of Castle Acre village, showing the priory (left) and the castle (right).

Get to Grips with the Area

This tranquil village in Norfolk is a great example of Norman planning and design for you and your learners to explore. 

The first William de Warenne, a close supporter of William the Conqueror, founded the castle in Castle Acre soon after the Battle of Hastings. Although the castle underwent many changes in the 12th century, it remains one of the most impressive Norman earthworks in the country. 

Castle Acre Priory dates back to 1090 and was the home of one of the earliest communities of Cluniac monks in England. You can see the Cluniacs' love of decoration reflected in the priory's well-preserved and extensive ruins. 

In the centre of the village, the Bailey gate is one of two stone gatehouses added to the settlement's massive earthwork defences in about 1200. Today, the main road into the village still runs between the gatehouse's towers. 

Image Gallery

West Front Reconstruction

West Front Reconstruction

A reconstruction by Peter Dunn of the west front as it may have looked in the second half of the 12th century.



Main Entrance to the Church

Main Entrance to the Church

The arched doorway in the west front of the church was the main entrance used by monks in procession.



Blind Arcading

Blind Arcading

Blind arcading describes a series of arches sometimes stacked up in tiers, as at Castle Acre Priory. The arches have no structural purpose; they are applied to the face of the wall as a purely decorative feature.



Chapter House Reconstruction

Chapter House Reconstruction

A reconstruction by Peter Dunn of the inside of the chapter house as it may have looked in about 1200. The prior sat on the throne in the middle, while the monks sat around the outside on stone benches. The community gathered here each day to read the Rule of St. Benedict, in Latin.



Chapter House Remains

Chapter House Remains

The north wall of the chapter house interior. The the base are the remains of the monks' bench. 



Latrine Block Reconstruction

Latrine Block Reconstruction

The latrine was a large toilet block built over a stream. Twenty-four monks could use the toilet at the same time. The upper storey was on the same level as the dormitory (which it adjoined) and could be used by the monks during the night. The lower storey was at ground level, making it easier to use during the day.



Latrine Block Remains

Latrine Block Remains

The latrine block has been cleverly designed in response to the natural features of the landscape, on a spot over a stream that allowed for the quick disposal of waste: a particularly fine example of medieval plumbing.



Church Remains

Church Remains

An aerial view of the church, looking across the transepts, crossing and nave from east to west.



Carved Stonework on the West Front

Carved Stonework on the West Front

Carved stones are used to decorate the West Front with bold shapes including zig-zags, chevrons (arrowshapes), step-shapes and circles.



Cloister Remains

Cloister Remains

The location of the cloister on the southern side of the church was common in monasteries, allowing the monks to enjoy the warmth and light of the sun. Many monks spent much of the day walking, reading, writing and thinking in the cloister, when not at services in church.



Steps from the Cloister to the Dormitory

Steps from the Cloister to the Dormitory

These steps were used by monks to get between the cloister, on the ground floor, and the dormitory (their shared sleeping quarters) on the floor above.



Castle Acre Village Aerial

Castle Acre Village Aerial

An aerial view of Castle Acre, showing the relationship between the priory, village and castle. 



Castle Acre Castle Aerial

Castle Acre Castle Aerial

Castle Acre Castle was founded soon after the Battle of Hastings by the first William de Warenne, who fought alongside William the Conqueror. It's a fine example of a motte-and-bailey castle built in the Norman period.



Castle Acre Bailey Gate

Castle Acre Bailey Gate

The Bailey Gate is one of two stone gatehouses added to the settlement's massive earthwork defences in about 1200. The main road into the village still runs between its towers.



Castle Acre Castle Motte

Castle Acre Castle Motte

A view - from the east - of the ditch, mound and stone remains of the upper ward at Castle Acre Castle.



Explore the priory and village

Video Resources

  • A Brief History of the Normans

    Discover the origins of the Normans, the story behind the dispute between Harold Godwinson and William the Conqueror, and how the Norman army took control of England.

  • A Mini Guide to Medieval Monks

    Learn how to tell the difference between monastic orders following the Rule of St Benedict in England during the Middle Ages. 

  • A Mini Guide to Medieval Castles

    Discover the changing design and uses of medieval castles in this short animation. 

Link Your Learning

ENGLISH - Find a quiet spot and settle there to write a poem which explores how the priory might have looked, felt and sounded in medieval times. Encourage students to include some of the following features: the five senses, alliteration, metaphor, simile, imagery, personification, sibilance, assonance and onomatopoeia.

SCIENCE - Castle Acre Priory has a medieval herb garden. In the Middle Ages, herbs had many uses including healing and soothing the sick. Research the healing properties of herbs like Marjoram and Thyme and find out about other herbs/foods that have medicinal qualities. Students could choose herbs to grow and monitor their development, comparing and contrasting the growth of different plants.

MATHS - Use the scale on a map of Castle Acre to estimate the distances between the town's main features. Learners could also calculate the time it would take a horse and rider to travel between the castle and the priory using speed = distance/time. The average speed of a walking horse is 4mph.

GEOGRAPHY - Examine a map of Castle Acre and identify the medieval features your learners recognise. What do they notice about the medieval layout of Castle Acre? Are there any features that they think are particularly important? Why?

ART AND DESIGN - The Cluniac priory impressed visitors with its rich interior and exterior decoration. Find one piece of intricately patterned stonework that will become the inspiration for a homemade souvenir which students design from scratch. The end product could be a key ring, bookmark, fridge magnet, ruler, etc. 

DRAMA - The Cluniac monks ate in silence, using sign language to communicate. Create a short scene set around the dinner table using only mime and silent expressions/gestures to tell a story.