Monastic Wales.








Event detail for site: Caldey

c. 1115: Foundation

The priory was founded c. 1113x15 by Geva, the mother of Robert fitz Martin, as a dependency of her son's foundation of St Dogmaels.

Caldey Island was granted to Robert fitz Martin by Henry I (1100-35). Robert, in turn, gave Caldey to his widowed mother who duly presented the island to St Dogmaels, to establish a daughter-house.
This was not the first religious establishment on the island. There was certainly a monastery in the fifth century that was dedicated to St Illtud; early medieval stones that have been recovered from this time are now on display. But the early house was likely in decline by the time of the Norman Invasion of Wales.

Bibliographical sources

Printed sources

Medieval Religious Houses, England and Wales, ed. R. Neville Hadcock and David Knowles (Harlow, 1971) p. 106

Cooper, R., Abbeys and Priories of Wales (Swansea, 1992) p. 45

Gerald of Wales (Giraldus Cambrensis), Gerald of Wales, The Journey Through Wales / The Description of Wales (Harmondsworth, 1978) p. 150

Other events in the history of this site

c.1115: Foundation - The priory was founded c. 1113x15 by Geva, the mother of Robert fitz Martin, as a dependency of her son's foundation of St Dogmaels. [3 sources]
c.1180: Numbers - By the late twelfth century the monastic community at Caldey was seemingly small, with just one or two monks.  
1381: Clerical poll tax - PHILIP FADIR, prior of Caldy, is assessed to pay a tax of 6s.8d. [1 sources][1 archives]
1504: Visitation - In July 1504 the see of St David's was vacant and the archdiocese of Canterbury undertook a visitation of St Dogmaels and its daughter-house, Caldey.  [1 sources]
c.1535: Wealth - According to the Valor Ecclesiasticus the priory had an annual income of £5 10s 11d and tithes of £1 is 11d.  [3 sources][1 archives]
c.1535: Numbers - On the eve of the Dissolution there was only one monk on the island. [1 sources]
1536: Survey - In late September the priory was surveyed in advance of its suppression. [1 sources]
1537: Dissolution - The priory was suppressed with the lesser houses on 8 April 1537, under the 1536 Act of Suppression.  [3 sources]
 
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