11th century Cluniac monastery in the village of Castle Acre near Swaffham, Norfolk. It was founded by William de Warenne after he and his wife
Gundrada were impressed by a visit to the French monastery of Cluny.
The following
Knightmare scenes were filmed at Castle Acre Priory:
The magnificent west front entrance.
Treguard: "
These are the remains of Dungarth. Once a proud palace of men, and a sanctuary from the predators of the forest. The way into Level 2 lies hidden here, but go forward with caution - the Opposition sacked Dungarth many years ago, but still maintains a freelance guard on the place."
Several
teams visited Dungarth in
Series 4. Dangers encountered here included
Fatilla, an
ogre,
goblins and
assassins... not to mention
Mellisandre giving out nonsense directions to Level 2.
Giles took a different exit from everyone else.
Also visited by
Team 5 of Series 6, who were chased off by a huge
Pooka.
Pickle: "
The ruins of Dungarth, master - we haven't seen this place for ages! Didn't it get taken over by witches?"
Most teams exited through the archway.
A
giant reptile could be found amongst the ruins.
On the garth, Vicky and
Dickon found Fatilla guarding the
wellway.
The chapel in the prior's house, where
SMALL and
DOWNERS were needed to fit through a
tiny doorway.
Nicky emerged from an equally small doorway in a
fireplace.
The prior's study was later used as a
wellway room and as
Brother Mace's "lonely cell". It also appeared in
Series 5 and
Series 6, once as a clue room.
Team 6 of Series 6 failed their Level 3 entrance exam in a flipped version of this room.
The oriel window can be seen behind
Hordriss.
The other end of the chapel was twice visited by
Team 5 of Series 7, who mopped the floor and later met
Sylvester Hands on his "DAYORF".
El Rescate del Talismán (the Spanish version) included an Eye
shield sequence that was never used in Knightmare, exiting via the right-hand door by the fireplace.
This room had previously contained
Ariadne's lair...
...and was also used for a Level 1
Causeway in Series 6.
Castle Acre Priory is now managed by English Heritage and is open to the public. Click
here to visit the website.
A selection of photographs taken by
Jake Collins can be found in Issues
32,
33 and
34 of
The Eye Shield.