The Dominican Friars had arrived in England in about 1224, and came to Sudbury in 1272 when Baldwin de Shimperling and his wife Mabilla had a house built for them, supported by an endowment.

In 1380, Simon himself donated a 20 feet (6.1 m) square plot of land at a nearby spring, so that an underground conduit could be constructed to the priory for a fresh water supply; however, local opposition to the scheme caused a five year delay, and was only completed after the friars had applied for and received royal protection.

In October 1539, the priory estate and buildings were granted to Thomas Eden, the Clerk of the King's Council and his wife, Griselda.

During the demolition, a number of old tombs were uncovered; one stone sarcophagus was reused as a horse trough at the Maldon Grey pub in Sudbury, but had been broken up by the turn of the 20th century.

[4] The only surviving elements of the original priory are the half timbered gatehouse in Friars Street, which dates from about 1500 and is a Grade II* listed building,[5] and three 15th-century dwelling houses at 62a-64 Friars Street, which originally formed part of the priory complex and are Grade II listed.