Herringfleet Priory (also St Olave's Priory) was an Augustinian priory of Black Canons located in St Olaves, north-west of Lowestoft in eastern England. The site is in the county of Norfolk, although prior to 1974 it was part of the former Suffolk parish of Herringfleet. Founded in 1239, the priory was situated near the ancient ferry across the River Waveney. The priory of SS. Mary and Olave was founded by Sir Roger Fitz Osbert of Somerley in the time of Henry III. The remains consist of the undercroft, two aisles of the Lady Chapel, and the refectory, now a barn.

The original dedication was to "St Olave, The Blessed Virgin Mary, and St Edmund, King and Martyr". Saint Olaf was King of Norway. He was born ca. 995 AD and Christianised Norway. In Suffolk, there was no other dedication to Saint Olaf, but two in Norfolk, and over fifty in the rest of England, with six in London. On 20 August 1536, Sir Humphrey Wingfield, the Commissioner for the Dissolution of the Monasteries arrived, and on 16 January 1546 Henry VIII made over the priory site to a local man, Sir Henry Jerningham of Somerleyton. Now in ruins, it gives its name to St. Olave's Bridge, over the Waveney, replacing a very ancient ferry, and also to a modern railway-junction.

St Olaves Priory, Herringfleet

The Priory was allowed to hold an annual fair on St Olave's Day, 29 July. It was also given the lordship over Herringfleet and Burgh St Peter. The area has been excavated and several burials in the Canons' cemetery discovered. It is now in the guardianship of English Heritage.

St Olaves Priory, Herringfleet

Priors

1273 William

1300 Bennedict

1303 Thomas of Norwich

1309 William Dale

1329 John de Tybenham

1341 Philip of Herlingland

1354 John of Surlingham

1370 Roger of Haddiscoe

1391 John of Hanewell

1401 John of Wylughy

1430 John Wells

1460 William Bugal

1468 William Beverley

1480 Thomas Baget

1541 William Dale

References

External links

St Olaves Priory at English Heritage

1239 establishments in England

Monasteries in Suffolk

Augustinian monasteries in England

Christian monasteries established in the 13th century

1536 disestablishments in England

St Olaves Priory, Herringfleet