Bromehill Priory

The priory stood about a mile south-east of the village of Weeting, just to the north of the present site of Brandon railway station.

In 1738 the historian Blomefield reported that the foundations and walls of the priory could be seen, and that "several stone coffins have been dug up". An Augustinian house, the priory was founded by Sir Hugh de Plaiz during the reign of King John and dedicated to St Mary and St Thomas the Martyr.

In 7 Henry III the right to hold a fair was granted to the prior and brothers - the fair to be held on 7th July each year, that being the translation day of Thomas Becket.

Sir Hugh endowed the house with a moiety of the manor of Weeting. This moiety became known as Bromhill Priory Manor. In 3 Edward I the prior was made lord of the manor. Over the succeeding years many bequests and gifts of land were made to the priory.

The priory was closed as a result of a bull of Pope Clement VII dated 14 May 1528 and the lands and manor passed to the control of Cardinal Woolsey, along with many other parcels of lands in Norfolk and Suffolk. the cardinal soon fell from favour at court, and on 2 Jan 23 Henry VIII all these holdings were granted to the Master and Fellows of Christ's College, Cambridge.

Bromehill Priory

You can read about the Priory in the book "The History of Bromehill Priory & Fair". Copies are available from the group - please visit our sales page.