St Benet's Abbey, River Bure from Old Postcards

The Norfolk Broads from Old Postcards

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St Benet's Abbey, River Bure

Just downstream from the mouth of the River Ant and opposite Fleet Dyke stands the ruined gatehouse of St Benet's Abbey with the ruin of a later windmill built in it. The original abbey was founded in the 9th century but was destroyed in 870 by Danish invaders. A hundred years later a monastery was founded here by King Canute. 1536 saw all the abbeys dissolved by Henry VIII except St Benet's where he appointed the abbot as Bishop of Norwich. Today the Bishop of Norwich still holds an open air service here on the first Sunday in August. After 1536 the monks soon left and the fabric of the abbey was taken away by villagers to build houses, the windmill was built around 1800.

The Bure at St Benet's Abbey. c1908

c1908

A Wherry makes its way downstream with St Benet's Abbey in the background.

The Bure at St Benet's Abbey. 2005

2005

St Benet's Abbey from upstream, the preserved trading Wherry ' Albion ' built by William Brighton at Oulton Broad in 1898, sails downriver.