Suffolk

Founded as abbey of Blessed Virgin Mary by Sir Ranulph de *Glanvil, also Glanville (CLAPHAM) *Glanvill (THOMPSON) who became justiciar of England in 1180 and had founded the large priory of Butley in 1171, in 1183.  Daughter of Welbeck.  Founded close to sea, rebuilt further away in 1363 by Robert de Ufford, Earl of Suffolk (CLAPHAM)

Giraldus Cambrensis says it was founded for 26 canons.  Number may have increased because they sent a colony to Langdon in 1189.

Early dispute between Durford and Welbeck over parentage because the abbot of Durford hoped to make Leiston more important (THOMPSON)

Total income in 1291 was over £130.

Church built late 14th century, after fire of 1389, marks of which can be seen in cloister.  Suppression inventory speaks of a tower with rooms in it.  2 aisle chapter house, warminghouse fireplace visible;  dorter divided into cubicles the doors of which Redman said should have small windows (CLAPHAM)

Suffered severely from the Black death and from flooding, and so obtained papal licence to move from the swamp near the sea in 1365.  The old site became a cell;  John Green was consecrated anchorite here in 1531 after resigning the abbacy of Leiston II.

Cell surrendered in 1537

Meanwhile, the buildings of the new abbey Leiston II were burnt down in 1380 and rebuilt.  (KNOWLES).  Church and claustral block of about 1360 but incorporating considerable portions of the earlier building by the sea:  late 12th century E piers of crossing, early 13th century arches from transepts into chapels, early 14th century E window of N chapel and 13th century vaulting corbels in W range.  Low brick undercroft inserted in refectory.  Elaborate early 16th century brick porch added to W range.
Surviving pier of cloister arcade shows that plain rectangular openings must have had wooden lintels, tracery and subdivisions.
2 large apartments S of church probably sacristies;  rectangular building S of dorter, possibly rere-dorter but too far from dorter?;  remains of a vaulted building to W of that (CLAPHAM)