Wihenoc (Guiethenauc), lord of Monmouth, granted the church of St Cadoc and other endowments to the abbey of St Florent de Saumur (Anjou) to establish an alien priory. This led to the establishment of Monmouth Priory.
During monastic occupation the nave of the priory church served as the parish church and was divided from the monks' choir by a screen. show details of standing remains
Standing remains
The medieval remains of the priory church are preserved in the parish church of St Mary's which was rebuilt in the eighteenth century; the conventual buildings were recently restored with the help of an HLF grant. Read more.
Dedicated to: Blessed Virgin Mary; St Florent Medieval Diocese: Llandaff Affiliated to: St Florent de Saumur (mother-house) Lordship at foundation: Hereford Access: Public access to the parish church of St Mary Owned by: Representative Body of the Church in Wales; community building
Main events in the history of this site
c.1080: Foundation - William the Conqueror confirmed the endowment of the priory before his death in 1086. [1 source] 1101: Dedication - The church was dedicated by Bishop Hervey of Bangor. [1 source] c.1200: Proposal to found a daughter-house - Walter de Lacy (d. 1241)apparently took steps to found a daughter-house of Monmouth c. 1200, but his plans did not seemingly come to fruition. [1 source][1 archive] 1234: Compensation - The community sustained damages during the war between Henry III and Richard Marshall but was duly compensated. [2 sources] 1264: Financial problems - Geoffrey Moreteau, a capable monk of St Florent, was sent to Monmouth take over as prior of the house, in the hope that he could reverse the priory’s financial problems. [2 sources] 1279: Indulgences - In an attempt to alleviate the priory's financial burdens Bishop Thomas de Cantilupe of Hereford issued an indulgence to anyone who visited the priory church of St Mary’s and recited prayers there. [1 source] 1291: Wealth - According to the Taxatio Ecclesiastica of 1291 Monmouth had at this time 480 acres of arable land and the priory’s assized rents totalled £14 6s 8d with the revenue from its courts (‘curial revenue’) totalling 10s. [2 sources] 1309: Sanctuary infringed - A band of armed Welshmen broke into the church, dragged out an escapee from the castle and then murdered him. [1 source] 1315: Impoverishment - At this time the priory was so greatly impoverished that the abbot of St Florent doubted he would be able to maintain a full convent at Monmouth. [1 source] 1354: Diocesan rights - A case was made for episcopal visitation and procuration. [1 source] 1398: Papal indulgence - Boniface IX granted an indulgence to pilgrims who visited the priory on great festivals, as well as on the feast day of the dedication and on the feast of the relics. [1 source] 1403: Destruction - The priory suffered losses during the Owain Glyn Dŵr rebellion. [1 source] 1415: Independence - Monmouth achieved independent status and continued as a denizen priory. [2 sources] c.1531: Deprivation - In November 1531 reports of the priory's ruinous state were noted and an investigation was undertaken by the bishop of Hereford. [2 sources] c.1536: Dissolution - The exact date of the priory's suppression is not now known but it was certainly not before the start of June 1536 when the house was still functioning. [6 sources] + 13 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
