Castle Acre

Castle Acre is a village and civil parish in the English county of Norfolk. The village is situated on the River Nar some 4 miles (6.4 km) north of the town of Swaffham. It is 15 miles (24 km) east of the town of King’s Lynn, 33 miles (53 km) west of the city of Norwich, and 103 miles (166 km) from London.

History
Castle Acre’s name is of Anglo-Saxon and Norman origin and is derived from Old English and Norman French for a castle close to cultivated land.

The village is most famous for being the location of Castle Acre Castle, which was built in 1085 by William de Warenne to enforce his control over his East Anglian lands. By the 12th century, the castle passed into the ownership of Hamelin Plantagenet, who hosted both King Henry II and King Edward I in Castle Acre. By the 16th century, the castle lay mainly derelict yet had a procession of illustrious owners, including Thomas Howard, Thomas Cecil and Sir Edward Coke. Today, the castle is maintained by English Heritage.

Furthermore, Castle Acre is home to the ruins of Castle Acre Priory, established in 1090 by William de Warenne for an order of Cluniac monks. The monastery fell into disrepair after the Dissolution of the monasteries in the 16th century. English Heritage maintains the priory.

Note: there are no photos of the Priory, and I doubt we will visit it again. Compared to other castles and similar attractions, the entrance to the Priory is very expensive for a family. Visit the castle is free.