St. Olaves

The suspension bridge, St. Olaves Bridge, is the first bridging point on the Waveney above Great Yarmouth.

On the site of the Priory there is Priory Mill, a drainage windpump.

History

In 1239 the Augustinian Priory of Black Canons was founded near the ancient ferry at St. Olaves. The original dedication was to "St. Olave, The Blessed Virgin Mary, and St. Edmund, King and Martyr". Saint Olaf was King of Norway. He was born ca. 995 AD and christianised Norway. In Suffolk, England, there is no other dedication to St. Olaf, but two in Norfolk, and a few in the rest of England.

The Priory was allowed to hold an annual fair on St. Olave's Day, July 29. It was also given the lordship over Herringfleet and Burgh St. Peter[?].

The area has been excavated and several burials in the Canons' cemetery discovered.

Priors of St. Olaves:

• 1273 William
• 1300 Bennedict
• 1303 Thomas of Norwich
• 1309 William Dale
• 1329 John de Tybenham
• 1341 Philip of Herlingland
• 1354 John of Surlingham
• 1370 Roger of Haddiscoe
• 1391 John of Hanewell
• 1401 John of Wylughy
• 1430 John Wells
• 1460 William Bugal
• 1468 William Beverley
• 1480 Thomas Baget
• 1541 William Dale

On August 20, 1536, Sir Humphrey Wyngefeld, the Commissioner for the Dissolution of the Monasteries arrived, and on January 16, 1546, Henry VIII made over the priory site to a local man, Henry Jerningham of Somerleyton.