Monastic Wales.








Event detail for site: Maenan

1283-1284: Relocation

The community relocated to Maenan for Edward I wished to build a castle at Aberconwy and a walled town.

The General Chapter approved the move in September 1283, on the understanding that the new site was suitable and the buildings were ready. On 11 September Edward I's master mason visited Maenan to claim the estate in the king's name; Edward duly passed it on to the monks of Aberconwy. The move was opposed by Anian, bishop of St Asaph, who feared that the monks would encroach on his lands and tithes. However his protestations were in vain and on 23 October 1284 Edward I formally conveyed the new site and lands to the monks.

Bibliographical sources

Printed sources

Littere Wallie, ed. J. Goronwy Evans (Cardiff University of Wales Press: Cardiff, 1940) pp. 202-3

Robinson, David M., The Cistercians in Wales: Architecture and Archaeology 1130-1540, Society of Antiquaries of London, Research Committee Report (London, 2006) pp. 250-1

Other events in the history of this site

1283-1284: Relocation - The community relocated to Maenan for Edward I wished to build a castle at Aberconwy and a walled town. [2 sources]
1284: Royal visit - In October 1284 Edward I and his queen visited the newly-buit monastery. [1 sources]
1284: Reparations - Edward I awarded the abbey £100 to compensate the community for damages incurred as a result of his campaigns. [1 sources]
1291: Wealth - According to the Taxatio Ecclesiastica the monastery's total annual income at this time was £76 15s 8d. [4 sources]
1344: Debt - The abbey was in debt to the Italian merchants of Florence to the sum of £200. [1 sources]
1346: Debt - The monastery owed a significant sum of money to the Black Prince. [1 sources]
1379: Poll tax - The abbot was to pay 19s, the prior and each of the four monks 20d. [1 sources][1 archives]
c.1401: Destruction - The monastery suffered damages during the rebellion. [2 sources]
1482: Payments to former abbot's kin - The Cistercian General Chapter investigated two annual payments that were being made by the monastery. [1 sources]
1484: Tussle for the abbacy - David Winchcombe’s right to the abbacy was challenged by David Lloyd who was supported by the king, Richard II. [1 sources]
c.1535: Income - In the survey of c. 1535 (Valor Ecclesiasticus) the net income of the abbey was recorded as £162. [2 sources][1 archives]
1537: Dissolution - The abbey was one of the first casualties of the Suppression and was closed in March 1537. [1 sources]
 
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