Editing Wymondham (section)

===Wymondham Abbey===
[[Wymondham Abbey]], founded in 1107, is a Grade I listed building.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.heritage.norfolk.gov.uk/record-details?MNF9437 |title=Wymondham-Abbey – Norfolk Heritage Explorer |website=www.heritage.norfolk.gov.uk |access-date=2019-10-14}}</ref> Originally a Benedictine priory, it became an independent abbey in 1449. During this period the two-tower design evolved. The east tower was built first to an octagonal design (1409) and the west tower completed in 1498.<ref name=":7">{{NHLE |num=1297494 |desc=ABBEY CHURCH OF ST MARY AND ST THOMAS OF CANTERBURY, Wymondham |access-date=2019-10-20}}</ref>

The abbey was [[Dissolution of the Monasteries|dissolved]] in 1538, after which many of its buildings were demolished. Their remains, including the surviving arch of the [[chapter house]], are scattered around the church.<ref>{{NHLE |num=1292209 |desc=REMAINS OF CHAPTER HOUSE AND SURROUNDING FRAGMENTS OF ABBEY CHURCH, Wymondham |access-date=2019-10-20}}</ref> The open land to the south of the church, above further remains of the medieval abbey, is a scheduled monument.<ref>{{NHLE |num=1003992 |desc=Wymondham Abbey, Wymondham |access-date=2019-10-20}}</ref> The east end of the church was demolished at the dissolution. The surviving {{convert|70|m|yd}}-long building is about half the original length.

The remainder survived the dissolution and continued in use as the local [[Church of England parish church]]. Some elements of the original Norman architecture are visible externally, while internally a 15th-century [[hammerbeam roof]] and a [[reredos]] by [[Ninian Comper]] can be seen.<ref name=":7"/><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://historicengland.org.uk/services-skills/education/educational-images/reredos-at-wymondham-abbey-wymondham-2609 |title=Reredos at Wymondham Abbey, Wymondham, Norfolk {{!}} Educational Images {{!}} Historic England|website=historicengland.org.uk |language=en |access-date=2019-10-20}}</ref>