Bacton

Bacton lies on the Norfolk coast between Walcott and Paston.

Bacton is a village with considerable historic interest - although it is  blighted today by the North Sea Gas terminal. Within the village stand the remains of Bromholm (or Bromholme or Broomholm Priory) - sometimes known as Bacton Abbey. It was established in 1113 by Cluniac Monks and became one of the most sacred places in England - largely due to the fact that it reputedly possessed a piece of the Holy Cross. This brought many pilgrims to Bromholm - including Henry III. Bromholm Priory is mentioned by the miller's wife in Chaucer's The Reeve's Tale.
 

The Priory was dissolved by Henry VIII in 1536 and today only a few fragrants of the walls remain. It is thought that John Paston (1421-1466)  - one of the authors of the Paston Letters - was originally buried at Bromholm Priory but that his tomb was moved to St. Margaret's Church at Paston after the dissolution.
 

Links:

St. Andrew's Church

Read a Paston Letter