Pentney: Priory, Church and River Nar

Pentney lies in the valley of the River Nar, a tributary of the River Great Ouse. The former priory and the Church of St Mary Magdalene reveal different aspects of the village’s history; there is also a named circular walk and fishing opportunities at Nar Valley Fisheries. These themes offer different ways to shape a stay. If you are looking for hotels for a trip to Pentney, you can first decide whether architectural history, church architecture, a circular walk or seasonal trout fishing will be the focus of your stay.

Pentney Priory and its Gatehouse

Pentney Priory was founded by Robert de Vaux around 1130. The surviving gatehouse is a late-14th-century gatehouse of the Augustinian priory and is listed as a Grade I building in England. It is the only monastic building at the site to survive above ground. The 12th-century foundation and the surviving building from the late 14th century therefore represent two clearly distinct historical periods. The site of the former monastic precinct was bounded to the south by the River Nar; the gatehouse stands about a mile west of the village on the river’s north bank. The river boundary marks the southern side of the former monastic precinct; by contrast, the western location, approximate distance and north bank refer to the gatehouse.

St Mary Magdalene: Church and Architectural History

St Mary Magdalene has stood on its site since Norman times. Originally built as a small chapel, the church was doubled in length in the 13th or 14th century. Christian worship has been held there for over a thousand years; inside are delicate Norman arches. The church thus combines a long history of religious use with a later structural extension and Norman architecture.

Paths and Earlier Traces

The remains of a wayside cross between the village of Pentney and the site of the priory marked the route between St Mary Magdalene in the village and the monastery. The proposed circular walk “Nar Valley Way, Setchey and Shouldham Warren walk” leads, among other places, to Pentney Abbey. These are different points of reference for planning: the wayside cross points to the former connection between the village church and the priory, while the named circular walk offers another touring option.

Pentney also has evidence of a local Romano-British pottery industry dating back at least to the 3rd or 4th century. This archaeological trace therefore reaches back to a time before the medieval buildings.

Fishing at Nar Valley Fisheries

Nar Valley Fisheries comprises five lakes and ponds available for fishing. Hobbs Lake at Nar Valley Fisheries is a 25-acre trout fishery. The facilities also include a recently restored 1.5-mile stretch of the River Nar, where trout fishing is permitted from 1 April to 30 October. The fishing opportunities therefore vary by water and season: Hobbs Lake is identified as a trout fishery, while the river stretch has its own fishing season. Before planning a fishing trip, check the applicable seasons and fishing rules, as seasonal operation and regulations may change.

Discover more destinations: Scole, Tivetshall St. Margaret, Beetley, Brancaster, Mulbarton, King's Lynn, Honingham, Hethersett.

For the regional travel overview: Norfolk.