Castle Acre - a brief history

Castle Acre takes its name from the walled castle built in the 12th Century by the Normans and is well worth a visit, particularly to walk around its walls and ramparts. Castle Acre is north east of Downham Market and is a small, but flourishing West Norfolk town. The town traces its history to before the 10th Century. The Town has an ancient gateway arch called the Bailey Gate (Bailey Street is where we are located). The Bailey Gate is the north gateway to the medieval town (which is off the A1065 Fakenham to Swaffham road), and is at the east end of Stocks Green.  In addition to the Castle and the Bailey Gate, the beautifully maintained Castle Acre Priory is worth a visit. The walled herb garden and the prior’s lodging give an insight into the life of this once powerful priory. Further north is Castle Rising, once the home to Queen Isabella, the ‘she wolf of France’, who plotted the murder of her husband, Edward II. The huge 12th century keep stands in the centre of massive earth works. There are wonderful views from the ramparts. 

Pictorial history of Castle Acre.

Links of historical interest:

A historical look at the village

The family tree of one of Castle Acre’s early Norman families,  Grundred Princess of England, died Castle Acre in Feb 1085 and buried in Lewes in Sussex. 

Baroness Joan Plantagenet  Joan "of Acre" Plantagenet was born in 1272 in Acre, Palestine and later associated with Castle Acre in Norfolk, England. She died on 23 Apr 1307. Parents: Edward I "Longshanks" King of England  and Eleanor of Castile Queen of England.

On Eleanor's death in 1290, King Edward 1, led a funeral procession from Lincoln to Westminster, a journey of some 200 miles taking 12 days to complete. Each overnight stop was marked with the erection of a stone cross, known affectionately as an Eleanor Cross. Unfortunately, only two such crosses survive at Geddington and Hardingstone.

For another more detailed view, with the route of Edward's procession and other details on this event, click here Eleanor Cross

Link of interest on Castle Acre

Castle Acre Priory and its History The grounds of the priory and the castle in Castle Acre are now owned by the Earl of Leicester, whose family seat is at Holkham Hall.

Historical American Links - Aristocratic and Revolutionary

It is interesting how the flatlands of East Anglia have shaped the USA. Two men from opposite spectrums of society and from different generations but both from Norfolk have had a significant influence in the development of America: Sir Edward Coke, from Holkham Hall, a lawyer and aristocrat, and Thomas Paine, a revolutionary. Edward Coke, prosecutor of the 'Gunpowder Plotters', was very influential in shaping the jurisprudence of the USA; and Thomas Paine, a Quaker, born in Thetford and famous for his revolutionary book The Rights of Man, published in 1791, directly influenced the declaration of independence and the constitution of the the USA.

 Open Air Theatre

Take the River Walk from the town to West Acre Priory. There you will find an open space set in the grounds of the Priory. The Open Air Theatre has a season of plays and events in the summer and a group called ‘Live Space’ use Riverside Studios for workshops all the year round. For details please contact the organiser by telephone on 01 760 755007 for details of events.

Web site: West Acre River Studios
livespace@westacreriverstudios.co.uk

Walking

Castle Acre and the Old Red Lion is a very convenient stopping point on the Peddars Way.  The Peddars Way is an ancient path that links Thetford with Cromer. For further details please click on this link Peddars Way Link, which will give you a lot of detailed information on the path and the new bus service for cyclists that has been introduced as a result of EU Objective Two Funding.

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