Ewenny Priory was founded as a cell of St Peter's, Gloucester, by William of London (d. 1131), lord of Ogmore Castle. The recovery of pre-Norman stones on the site suggests that there may have been a much earlier foundation at Ewenny. show details of standing remains
Standing remains
During monastic occupation the monks shared their church with the laity who occupied the nave; the two communities were divided by a partition. The nave continues to function as the parish church and is the most complete Norman church in South Wales. The conventual buildings were mostly destroyed but two fourteenth-century gateways survive as well as the enclosure walls of a fortified mansion that adjoined the priory. Read more.
Dedicated to: St Michael Medieval Diocese: Llandaff Affiliated to: St Peter's, Gloucester (mother-house) Lordship at foundation: Glamorgan Access: Former priory church open to public Owned by: Representative Body of the Church in Wales (nave of the priory church); CADW (former presbytery, crossing and north transept, as well as surviving gatehouse and walls).
The surrounding buildings are privately owned.
Main events in the history of this site
pre 1131: Foundation - It is not known when precisely Ewenny Priory was founded but it had its origins before 1131 when William of London (d. 1131), lord of Ogmore Castle, gave the church of St Michael there to St Peter's, Gloucester, to establish a cell. [4 sources] 1141: Re-foundation and change in status - Ewenny was raised to conventual status. [2 sources] 1144: Burial - The burial of Maurice of London’s sister, Matilda, caused a serious dispute between Prior John of Ewenny and the bishop of Llandaff. [1 source] 1284: Visitation - Archbishop Pecham conducted a visitation of the house; the injunctions survive. [2 sources] c.1291: Wealth - According to the Taxatio Ecclesiastica Ewenny's income was estimated at £56. [2 sources] c.1300: Patronage - At this time the patron of Ewenny was Payn de Chaworth. [2 sources] 1400x1415: Destruction - The house suffered extensive damage during the rebellion of Owain Glyn Dŵr. [1 source] 1534: Numbers - Two monks and a prior subscribed to the Act of Supremacy. [3 sources] c.1535: Wealth - According to the Valor Ecclesiastcus Ewenny’s gross income was £78 14s. [2 sources][1 archive] c.1535: Stewardship - According to the Valor Ecclesiasticus, the earl of Worcester held the stewardship of Ewenny at this time.
[1 source] 1537 (28 February): Custody - Gloucester Abbey leased Ewenny Priory and its appurtenants to Sir Edward Carne for a period of ninety-nine years and for the rather menial rent of £20 10s per annum. [1 source] 1540: Dissolution - The priory was surrendered with Gloucester Abbey on 2 January 1540. [3 sources] + 9 minor events.Show minor events
Stöber, Karen, 'Social networks of late medieval Welsh monasteries', in Monasteries and Society in the Later Middle Ages, Studies in the History of Medieval Religion, 35, ed. Janet Burton and Karen Stöber (Boydell and Brewer: Woodbridge, 2008), pp. 12-24
