There is also Kirstead Hall described as,“a fine Grade 1 listed Elizabethan Manor house Circa 1570 of E-shaped plan with stepped Flemish gable ends.

The brickwork with attractive blue diaper decoration and pin tiled roof standing in 4 acres.”[4]There are 3 regular bus services through Kirstead connecting the village with Bungay, Norwich and Halesworth.

Under the reign of Henry VIII c.1535 the abbey was closed due to the introduction of the Church of England and the site was bought by John and Elizabeth Cook.

In 1544 the building and surrounding land was bought by Thomas Godsalve who was a lawyer in the Court of Norwich to expand his large estate.

The building was inherited by his son Sir John Godsalve who was Clerk of the Signet to Henry VII and under Edward VI was Comptroller of the Mint.