Ankerwycke Priory

Ankerwycke Priory is the ruin of a medieval Benedictine nunnery at Hythe End, beside the village of Wraysbury on the north bank of the Thames, directly across the river from Runnymede. The site lies within National Trust grounds in Berkshire and is both Grade II listed and protected as a Scheduled Monument.

What is this place?

Gilbert de Muntfichet and his son Richard founded the priory around 1160 and dedicated it to St Mary Magdalene. It stayed small: at the start of the 16th century it housed a prioress and only six or seven nuns. The house was closed in 1536 during the Dissolution of the Monasteries. It then became a farm, and in 1551 Sir Thomas Smith took the lease and built a house using the priory's materials.

What will you see?

Only a modest part of the walls remains, but Historic England protects the whole site, including the moat and former fishponds. The layout still shows the standard plan of a nunnery, with a church and domestic buildings arranged around a cloister. A short walk away stands the Ankerwycke Yew, a tree estimated at somewhere between 1,500 and more than 2,500 years old. Tradition places King John and the barons near it before the sealing of Magna Carta in 1215. Benches around the tree make a good rest stop.

How do you get there?

Ankerwycke sits on the opposite side of the river from the main Runnymede memorials, and you cannot walk across from the Runnymede car park. Drive to the car park on the Ankerwycke side instead. On foot, the site is reached along the riverside from Wraysbury.

When to visit and what to expect

The grounds are open from dawn to dusk, and the riverside car park normally runs from 7:00 to 19:00. The circuit around the ruins and the yew is a flat loop of about 1 mile (1.6 km). Paths turn muddy in winter and spring, so wear sturdy footwear. There are no toilets on site. Early spring and autumn are quiet and pleasant on the Thames meadows.

Frequently asked questions

Is there an entry fee? Entry to the grounds is free. Parking charges are set by the National Trust, so check its website before you travel.

Can I walk inside the ruins? The ruins are a protected monument, so you view them from the marked paths and do not climb the walls.

How long should I allow? A relaxed visit to the priory and the yew takes between 45 minutes and an hour.

Is there a cafe? No. The nearest tea room is on the Runnymede side, about 15 minutes away by car.