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Bury St Edmunds Abbey
Travel Information and nearby accommodation
In 663 Ad King Sigebert of the East Angles established a religious community of secular priests in Bury. In 903 the body of St Edmund was buried here, over 30 years after his unpleasant death at the hands of the Danes. In 1020 King Canute re-established the settlement as a Benedictine monastery, with 20 monks. William the Conqueroor expanded the number of monks by 60, and granted the abbey additional privileges.
In 1095 St Edmund's remains were reburied in a new stone church. Shortly after that the abbey was greatly expanded with the building of a refectory, chapter house, cloisters, infirmary, and dormitory. The abbey was damaged by fire in 1150, and almost all of the buildings had to be rebuilt. The church was expanded later in the 12th century.
Relations between the abbey and the townsfolk of Bury were turbulent at best, and the friction erupted into riots in 1327. In 1465 the church and refectory were damaged by a fire, and rebuilt.
During the Middle Ages Bury St Edmunds was the most powerful and richest Benedictine Abbey in England, but that power did not last. Henry VIII dissolved the abbey in 1540, and sold the property. Much of the stone was carried away to be used in other building projects, although the abbot's palace survived as a privae house until 1720. Further private houses were built onto the west front of the abbey church.
The abbey church was a huge building, measuring ovrer 500 feet in length, with a nave of 12 bays. The oldest surviving part of the church is the apsidal crypt, which was built by Abbot Baldwin around 1066.
The abbey today consists of remains of the church, cloister, parlour, refectory, chapter house, night stair, warming house, abbot's chapel, Queen's Chamber, and treasury. The abbey battlemented Great Gate still stands also. This was built following the riots of 1327 and finished after 1353. It is two stories high and beautifully decorated.
The abbey site is open at any time.
Bury St Edmunds,
Suffolk,
England
About Bury St Edmunds Abbey
Attraction Type: Abbey
Location: At the east of the town centre. Open access site.
Website: Bury St Edmunds Abbey
English Heritage
Location
map
OS TL859642
Heritage Highlight: The 14th century Great Gate is beautifully decorated
Heritage Rating:  ?
Nearest Accommodation to Bury St Edmunds Abbey
Nearest Self Catering Cottages |
 1 West End Cottages -
2.4
miles from Bury St Edmunds Abbey
Fornham All Saints, Suffolk
Sleeps: 5
Stay from: £275 |
 The Thatched Cottage -
8
miles from Bury St Edmunds Abbey
Rattlesden, Suffolk
Sleeps: 3
Stay from: £275 |
 Lady Cottage -
10
miles from Bury St Edmunds Abbey
Lavenham, Suffolk
Sleeps: 2
Stay from: £325 |
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Nearest Tourist
Information Centre
Bury St Edmunds
Tourist Information Centre
6 Angel Hill
Bury St Edmunds
Suffolk
England
IP33 1UZ
Tel: 01284 764667
Fax: 01284 757084
Email: tic@stedsbc.gov.uk
Web: http://www.stedmundsbury.gov.uk/
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