 Today the Abbey serves as the parish church of Wymondham, but it started life as a Benedictine priory.The monastery was founded in 1107 by William d'Aubigny, Butler (Pincerna) to King Henry I. William was a prominent Norfolk landowner, with estates in Wymondham and nearby New Buckenham.The d'Albini (or d'Aubigny) family originated from St. Martin d'Aubigny in Normandy.