Castle Acre is named for
Castle Acre Castle, a Norman castle built in 1085 by
William de Warenne in order to enforce his control over his East Anglian lands. By the 12th century, the castle passed into the ownership of
Hamelin Plantagenet who hosted both
Henry II and
Edward I in Castle Acre. By the 16th century, the castle lay mainly derelict, yet had a procession of illustrious owners including
Thomas Howard,
Thomas Cecil and
Edward Coke. Today, the castle is maintained by
English Heritage. In the
Domesday Book, Castle Acre is listed with
West Acre as a settlement of 130 households in the
hundred of Freebridge. It divided between the estates of
William de Warenne,
Ely Cathedral and
Ralph de Tosny. Also in the village are the ruins of
Castle Acre Priory, established in 1090 by William de Warenne for an order of
Cluniac monks. The monastery fell into disrepair after
Dissolution of the monasteries in the 16th century. The priory is maintained by English Heritage. ==St. James' Church==