These are the evocative remains of an abbey founded when the order of the land was God first, followed by King and country. The abbey was founded close to Minsmere in 1182 for an order of 26 canons of the Premonstratension order by Ranulph de Granville. It was later moved inland owing to the location being continually flooded, this was achieved by a papal license of 1365, allowing the order to move to Leiston which is some 4 miles inland.
The abbey was closed during the Reformation of the 16th century, it was passed to Charles Brandon, Duke of Suffolk in 1537.
The site of the abbey ruins is extremely picturesque, allowing for a backward glimpse of what these once great monastic buildings must have looked like when it was a flourishing order with a grand church. These ruins look startlingly beautiful in moonlight and if you happen to be exploring the site at the time of a setting sun, you can almost imagine the monks in brown habits, with bare feet, returning from their labours in the fields.
Leiston is a charming village lying close to the east coast, between Aldeburgh and Dunwich.
in the county of Suffolk
(3.2 miles, 5.2 km, direction SE)Thorpeness's quaint village sign gives the visitor some hint of the surprises to come, it depicts the House in the Clouds and Windmill, for which the village is most noted...
a Seaside Town in the county of Suffolk
(4.8 miles, 7.7 km, direction S)Aldeburgh is a seaside retreat with boundless charm. The history of the resort quite possibly reaches back to Saxon times, certainly during the Middle Ages it was a prosperous port and later it became known as a fishing centre...
a Seaside Town in the county of Suffolk
(5.1 miles, 8.2 km, direction SW)Snape is not simply unique for its beautiful location at the head of the River Alde, it is also unique as a village with an international reputation for music...
a Picturesque Village in the county of Suffolk
(7.3 miles, 11.7 km, direction NE)A pretty seaside village along the Suffolk coast, sat along the mouth of the river Blyth, with the neighbouring town of Southwold 1 mile to the North. Within Walberswick there is.....
in the county of Suffolk
(8.3 miles, 13.3 km, direction NE)The beach here is of sand and shingle, it is safe for swimming except around the harbour entrance. The restored pier is a great attraction with an amusement arcade at the shore end...
All towns in Suffolk
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Visitors to this lovely town wishing to see the Nature Reserve have to catch a ferry from Orford Quay. The reserve is the.....
Orford Castle stands guard over the coast from a high vantage position above the River Alde. It was built by Henry II in the.....
On reaching the curve of Market Hill a quaint, colourful sign proclaims to the visitor that you have arrived in the pretty market.....
Sutton Hoo can be found amongst the marshy creeks and reedy rivers of Suffolk. It is perhaps most famous as the setting of one.....
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