Grade I listed · South Norfolk

Abbey Church of St Mary and St Thomas of Canterbury

Abbey Church of St Mary and St Thomas of Canterbury is a Grade I listed building in South Norfolk, first listed on 29 December 1950. It is one of 101 Grade I entries among 2,962 listed buildings in South Norfolk; 0% of South Norfolk’s current entries were listed before it.

List entry
FieldValue
NameAbbey Church of St Mary and St Thomas of Canterbury
GradeGrade I — exceptional interest
List entry number1297494
Date first listed29 December 1950
Local planning authoritySouth Norfolk
Location52.57050, 1.10753 (map)
Official recordHistoric England list entry 1297494

Planning works on this listed building?

Planium checks which consents South Norfolk will require for your works on Abbey Church of St Mary and St Thomas of Canterbury, lists what the heritage statement must cover and drafts the application text.

Ask Planium what consent you need

What the grade means for works

Grade I buildings are of exceptional interest — only about 2.5% of listed buildings in England. Any application for listed building consent is notified to Historic England, and alterations are scrutinised closely.

The protection covers the whole building, inside and out, plus fixtures and attached structures. Typical works that need consent: replacing windows or doors, removing walls or historic fabric, changing roof coverings, installing solar panels or external insulation, and adding extensions.

Listed buildings near Abbey Church of St Mary and St Thomas of Canterbury

NameGradeDistance
Remains of Chapter House and Surrounding Fragments of Abbey ChurchII37 m
Precinct Walls to North West of Abbey Church and Attached GatesII47 m
Ada Hart Room and the Abbey SchoolroomII92 m
Precinct Walls to North East of Abbey Church and Attached GateII100 m
Bell CottageII103 m
Garden Walls to West and Wouth West of No 18 (Holmwood House) (Not Included)II111 m
AbbeywayII113 m
Vicar Street HouseII120 m
7a, Vicar StreetII131 m
14 and 16, Vicar StreetII135 m

Frequently asked questions

Is Abbey Church of St Mary and St Thomas of Canterbury listed?
Yes. Abbey Church of St Mary and St Thomas of Canterbury is on the National Heritage List for England as a Grade I listed building, list entry number 1297494, first listed on 29 December 1950. The full list entry with its description and map is on Historic England’s website.
Do I need consent for works to Abbey Church of St Mary and St Thomas of Canterbury?
Works that affect its character as a building of special architectural or historic interest — inside or out — need listed building consent from South Norfolk, in addition to any planning permission or building regulations approval. Like-for-like repairs often do not, but confirm with the council’s conservation officer before you start.
Source: National Heritage List for England, © Historic England 2026, via planning.data.gov.uk. Contains Ordnance Survey data © Crown copyright and database right. Licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Retrieved 12 October 2026. Local authority assigned from the list entry point. This page is a summary — the legal record is the official list entry.