Blythburgh Priory, Blythburgh, Suffolk
Blythburgh Priory, Blythburgh, Suffolk


December 2005 -
January 2015

A Personal Record
for Public Archives

Written by
Nick Haward
[and edited by]
Susan Haward
Introduction:

This is a private record, assembled from the owner’s contemporary files covering the ownership period from December 2005 - January 2015, of SAM SF215 – Blythburgh Priory Ruins.

Whilst historically accurate as a diary for the period of ownership, rather than simply setting down facts and figures, this Record purposefully observes the developing relationships forged between the Owners, English Heritage, specialists and historians, and of course, the monument itself. It touches on previous ownership, real people; some we know quite a lot about and some very little. What we do know is that Blythburgh Priory is a very special place; what we didn’t know when we embarked on our journey was just how special it is.

So here we go: a personal journey from a wilderness to very, very much more ...

English Heritage - Ruins Listing

Grade: II
Date first listed: 25-Oct-1951
Date of most recent amendment: 16-Jan-1984

TM 47 NE BLYTHBURGH PRIORY ROAD
2/19 Remains of Augustinian 25.10.51 Priory 60m north of The Priory (Formerly listed with The Priory - II as ruins of Conventual Church in garden)
Fragmentary ruins of Augustinian Priory, founded c.1125 as cell of St. Osyth priory. Flint rubble. To the south is the base of a C12 column and some C13 shafting. The remains are of the conventual church, which was probably a cruciform building. Scheduled Ancient Monument (County No. 215).
Listing NGR: TM4520775405

The Priory Listing

GRADE: II
DATE LISTED: 25 October 1951
ENGLISH HERITAGE BUILDING ID: 285534

OS GRID REFERENCE: TM4519675336
OS GRID COORDINATES: 645196, 275336
LATITUDE/LONGITUDE: 52.3213, 1.5965

TM 47 NE BLYTHBURGH PRIORY ROAD
2/18 The Priory
25.10.51

GV II
House. C17 nucleus, considerably altered and extended in several stages in late C19/early C20 by the artist and antiquarian John Seymour Lucas RA. Timber framed, brick extension to east, the whole plastered or roughcast rendered; pantiled roof. 2 storeys and attic. Windows late C19/early C20 casements with square leaded panes; asymmetrical entrance porch with overhanging first floor, 4-centre arch to doorway, boarded door with cover fillets; one ground floor oriel window, 2 2-storey splayed bays, each surmounted by a gabled dormer; one dormer window and one half dormer. Original stack to west; 2 late C19/early C20 stacks with tall flues set diagonally. Attached to the west is an annexe which is largely a reconstruction of a medieval chapel associated with the Augustinian Priory, although parts of the walling to the west and north appear to be original; the remains were formerly incorporated into a cottage. Random flint and stone, red brick dressings, pantiled roof. 2 bays, brick windows with pointed arches, Y tracery and hoodmoulds; corbelled brickwork to eaves, stepped brickwork to west gable, gable end stack. One room of the interior of the house has C16 beams and panelling from a house at Saffron Walden, Essex; 2 ornamental overmantels were also added in the restoration.

Listing NGR: TM4519675336