Creake Abbey is located in a peaceful rural area surrounded by beautiful water meadows, just south of Burnham Market, along the River Burn. The site features the impressive flint-walled ruins of an Augustinian abbey church, which narrate a history of structural decline and monastic reduction.
Visit Date: September 2025
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| Creake Abbey : View from Nave |
The remaining structures primarily include the presbytery, crossing, and north transept of the abbey church, along with parts of the north and south chapels. While several arches still stand nearly to their full height, the nave survives only as low walls and foundations. In the post-medieval period, the south wall of the nave was refaced to serve as a garden wall for a neighboring private house.
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| Creake Abbey North transept to left. |
The history of the abbey began in 1206, when Sir Robert de Nerford and his wife, Lady Alice, founded a small chapel called St. Mary of the Meadows at Lingerescroft, located near the River Burn.
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| Creake Abbey : Choir with chapel beyond. |
In 1217, following a naval victory in the Straits of Dover on St. Bartholomew’s Day, the couple established the Hospital of St. Bartholomew at the site. Shortly thereafter, the establishment adopted the Augustinian rule and was reestablished as a priory.
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| Creake Abbey : North Transept |
In 1225, King Henry III elevated the priory to a fully-fledged abbey, granting it the right to elect its own abbot.
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| Creake Abbey : Border wall between Nave and Cloister (Now a private Garden) |
During the mid-to-late 13th century, the abbey church was constructed, beginning with the presbytery and followed by the addition of the chapels, transepts, crossing, and nave.
In the early 14th century, the north transept chapels were rebuilt on a larger scale.
Creake Abbey : Detail
In 1327, the abbey was granted a licence to crenellate. Records indicate that the associated hospital remained in use in some capacity until 1397.
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| Creake Abbey : Detail |
The abbey’s prosperity ended abruptly in 1484 when a devastating fire destroyed the church and many outbuildings. Following this disaster, King Richard III donated £46 toward rebuilding costs, and Abbot Robert Walsingham initiated the reconstruction project in 1491. Although Sir William Calthorpe left an additional bequest of £75 in 1495, these funds were insufficient to restore the abbey to its former glory. Consequently, the church was drastically reduced in size, with the nave and transepts either demolished or blocked off to create a more modest chapel.
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| Creake Abbey : Detail |
In the early 16th century, a plague decimated the remaining canons, leaving only the abbot, Giles Shevington, who died alone on December 12, 1506. Upon his death, the abbey ceased to function and reverted to the Crown.
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| Creake Abbey : Detail |
In 1507, the King's mother, Margaret de Beaufort, intervened to grant the abbey and its lands to her new foundation, Christ's College, Cambridge.
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| Creake Abbey : Detail |
In the following centuries, the old church buildings were repurposed as farm structures, and the south wall of the nave was refaced to serve as a garden wall for an adjacent house.
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| Creake Abbey : Detail |
The brothers Samuel and Nathaniel Buck recorded the state of the ruins in an engraving in 1726. Much later, in 1874, restoration work was undertaken by R.M. Phipson to preserve the remaining structures. Today, the ruins are maintained as a free-entry site by English Heritage.
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TF 85591 39488 elevation 40 Ft.
Additional information.
Visiting is easy. Take the B1355 south from the village of Burnham Market.
The site is well signposted.
There is a small car park for 2 cars next to the site.
Alternativly you can stop at Creake Abbey Courtyard Shops & Services and walk the short distance.Creake Abbey Courtyard Shops & Services is a very charming little area with artisan shops and a really friendly welcoming cafe. There is also a farmers market on the site on some occasions.
Toilets are also available here.