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North Elmham Bishop's Palace

Travel Information and nearby accommodation

A small site with a big history - English Heritage calls this important complex of historic buildings 'North Elmham Chapel', but that simple name does not do justice to what is really a fascinating group of buildings dating back to the 7th century. You could just as easily call the site a settlement, with the ruins of a Saxon minster and cathedral, and a bishop's palace.

The small Norman chapel on this site stands on the site of a Saxon cathedral, the most important in East Anglia. In the 14th century the building was incorporated into a fortified manor house built by Henry DeSpenser, the unpopular Bishop of Norwich.

The site was first occupied between 650 - 750 AD when a cathedral community was established here, surrounded by ditches. Between 850 - 1000 AD the ditches were filled in and several large halls were built around a courtyard. This complex of buildings has been interpreted as a Bishop's Palace, though the first bishop known to be associated with North Elmham is Athulf, in about 950 AD. Between 1000 - 1050 North Elmham was abandoned. The final phase of building occurred between 1050 - 1125, when two buildings were constructed.

The Saxon cathedral was later incorporated into a medieval manor house built by Hugh DeSpenser.
North Elmham, Norfolk, England

About North Elmham Bishop's Palace
Attraction Type: Church
Location: On the B111 6 miles north of East Dereham. This is an open access site.
Website: North Elmham Bishop's Palace
English Heritage
Location map
OS TF992218
Heritage Rating:   ?

Nearest attractions Nearest Towns and Villages Nearest accommodation Nearest Tourist Information Centre

OS map Related Information

Nearest Attractions Stody Lodge Gardens - 8.8 miles (Garden) Saxthorpe, St Andrew Church - 9.3 miles (Church) Little Walsingham, St Marys - 9.7 miles (Church) Walsingham Priory - 9.9 miles (Abbey) Binham Market Cross - 11.2 miles (Historic Property) Binham Priory - 11.2 miles (Abbey) Mannington Hall Gardens - 11.3 miles (Garden) Wolterton Park - 11.3 miles (Historic House)

Nearest Towns and Villages Dereham - 5.2 miles away Elsing - 5.3 miles away Fakenham - 7.2 miles away Cawston - 9 miles away Little Walsingham - 10 miles away Binham - 11 miles away Holt - 11.3 miles away South Creake - 11.6 miles away

Nearest Accommodation to North Elmham Bishop's Palace

Nearest Self Catering Cottages

The Old Chapel - 2.8 miles from North Elmham Bishop's Palace Foxley, Norfolk Sleeps: 6 Stay from: £300

Wensum View Cottage - 3.7 miles from North Elmham Bishop's Palace Great Ryburgh, Norfolk Sleeps: 10 Stay from: £697

Huckleberry Cottage - 4.5 miles from North Elmham Bishop's Palace Wood Norton, Norfolk Sleeps: 6 Stay from: £230

More Self Catering near North Elmham Bishop's Palace

Nearest Hotels

The Boar Inn - 3.9 miles from North Elmham Bishop's Palace Great Ryburgh, Norfolk Stay from: £45.00

Hill House Hotel Dereham - 5.2 miles from North Elmham Bishop's Palace Dereham, Norfolk Stay from: £19.99

Phoenix Hotel - 5.3 miles from North Elmham Bishop's Palace Dereham, Norfolk Stay from: £40.00

More Hotels near North Elmham Bishop's Palace

Nearest Bed and Breakfasts

Yaxham Mill Hotel - 7.2 miles from North Elmham Bishop's Palace Dereham, Norfolk From: £48.00

Yaxham Mill - 7.5 miles from North Elmham Bishop's Palace Yaxham, Norfolk From: £48.00

The Old Bakehouse Tea Room & Guest House - 9.9 miles from North Elmham Bishop's Palace Walsingham, Norfolk From: £40.00

More bed and breakfasts near North Elmham Bishop's Palace

Dereham
Tourist Information Centre
Church House
Church Street
Dereham
Norfolk
NR19 1DN
Tel: 01362 698 992
Email: derehamtourism@tesco.net
Web: http://www.dereham.ontheweb.nu
Seasonal opening
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