Event detail for site: Whitland1539: DissolutionWhile Whitland was dissolved following the 1536 Act of Suppression, it was re-founded in April 1537 but finally closed in February 1539. People associated with this eventJohn Leland , antiquary, poet (visits) Bibliographical sourcesPrinted sourcesMedieval Religious Houses, England and Wales, ed. R. Neville Hadcock and David Knowles (Harlow, 1971) p. 128 Robinson, David M., The Cistercians in Wales: Architecture and Archaeology 1130-1540, Society of Antiquaries of London, Research Committee Report (London, 2006) pp. 294-5 Williams, David H., The Welsh Cistercians (Leominster, 2001) pp. 76-80, 82 Youings, J., The Dissolution of the Monasteries (London, 1971) pp. 25-55 Other events in the history of this sitepre 1145: Foundation - Whitland was the first of two houses in Wales to be colonised direct from Clairvaux and spawned a number of daughter-houses.
[2 sources] c.1151: Relocation - Following the death of Bishop Bernard of St David's, the community relocated to Whitland. [3 sources] 1160s (late): Patronage - Rhys ap Gruffudd assumed patronage of the house and added to the community's endowments. [2 sources] 1164: Founds daughter-house - Whitland founded its first daughter-house at Strata Florida. [1 sources] pre 1166: Patronage - By 1166 Rhys ap Gruffudd had confirmed and extended the abbey's original grant of Hendy-gwyn ar Dâf. [1 sources] 1170: Founds daughter-house - Whitland founded its second daughter-house at Stata Marcella. [1 sources] 1176: Founds daughter-house - Whitland founded a daughter-house at Cwmhir. [1 sources] 1186: Burial - Rhys's son, Cadwaladr, was buried at the house. [1 sources] 1188: Visit - Gerald of Wales and Archbishop Baldwin stayed at the abbey while preaching the Crusade. [1 sources] 1200: Founds daughter-house - On 25 January Whitland founded a daughter-house at Comber, Co. Down, Ireland. [3 sources] 1220: Burden of hospitality - Abbots travelling from Ireland to the General Chapter at Cîteaux often broke their journey at Whitland. [3 sources] 1224: Founds daughter-house - A second daughter-house was founded in Ireland - at Tracton, Co Cork. [4 sources] 1247: Abbey invaded - Nicholas, lord of Cemais, Patrick de Chaworth, lord of Kilwelly and of Carew, accompanied by Stephen Bauzan and a band of knights, invaded the abbey. [1 sources] 1258: Plundered - Whitland was plundered by royalists on 4 February; abbey servants were killed in the skirmish. [2 sources] 1271: Burial - Maredudd ap Rhys Gryg WAS buried at the front steps of the High Altar. [1 sources] c.1291: Wealth - According to the Taxatio Ecclesiastica Whitland had an estimated income of £43 15s 4d, a rather insignificant amount and perhaps a consequence of damages incurred during the Edwardian wars. [5 sources] 1295: Royal visit - Edward I stayed at the house on 5 June 1295, during the revolts. [1 sources] 1377: Clerical poll tax - Payments demanded from the community. [1 sources][1 archives] 1379: Clerical poll tax - Payments required from the community. [1 sources][1 archives] c.1405: Glyn Dŵr rebellion - The abbot of Whitland was accused of being a rebel and of supporting Glyn Dŵr. [3 sources] c.1440: Decline - Abbot David (1433-43) claimed that his house had been devastated to such an extent by warfare and fire that the monastery's revenues and resources could barely support him and his eight monks. [2 sources] 1491: Deposition of abbot - Abbot Huby of Fountains, reformator of the Cistercian houses in England and Wales, deposed the abbot of Whitland. 'for moral laxity and illicit contracts' [Williams, The Welsh Cistercians, p. 63]. [2 sources] c.1496: Murder - A monk of Neath Abbey who was staying at Whitland killed a secular priest in the cloister. [3 sources] c.1535: Wealth - According to the Valor Ecclesiasticus the house had a net income of £135 3s 69d. [3 sources] 1539: Dissolution - While Whitland was dissolved following the 1536 Act of Suppression, it was re-founded in April 1537 but finally closed in February 1539. [4 sources] |
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