Monastic Wales.








Event detail for site: Abergavenny

1154x89: Change in status

Abergavenny was raised to conventual status.

Whilst Abergavenny was established as a small cell, during Henry II’s reign it was raised to conventual status when William de Breos confirmed and supplemented his predecessors’ gifts so that the house could become a convent.
Once established Abergavenny was required to pay its mother-house £5 7s annually as a mark of deference. The abbot of St Vincent or his deputy would have periodically conducted a visitation of the priory to ensure that monastic observance was satisfactory.

People associated with this event

Adam of Orleton , bishop

Bibliographical sources

Printed sources

Monasticon Anglicanum: a History of the Abbies and other Monasteries, Hospitals, Frieries, and Cathedral and Collegiate Churches, with their Dependencies, in England and Wales, 6 in 8 vols, ed. Sir William Dugdale, revised J. Caley, H. Ellis, B. Bandinel (London, 1817-1830) vol. 4, p. 616

Cowley, F. G., The Monastic Order in South Wales 1066-1349 (Cardiff, 1977) p. 13

Other events in the history of this site

c.1100: Foundation - Abergavenny was founded c. 1087/1100 by Hamelin of Barham, as an alien cell of St Vincent, Le Mans, of which Hamelin was a benefactor.  [2 sources]
1154x89: Change in status - Abergavenny was raised to conventual status. [2 sources]
c.1204: Contact with mother-house - Following King John’s loss of Normandy, Maine, Anjou and Touraine to the king of France, relations and communications between Abergavenny and its mother-house were impeded and visitation was more irregular. [1 sources]
c.1291: Wealth - According to the figures compiled for the Taxatio Ecclesiastica, Abergavenny had an estimated income of £51 17s 10 ½ d, held 241 acres and held two mills.  [2 sources]
c.1294: Custody - Shortly after the outbreak of war Abergavenny was seized by the Crown as an alien priory.  [1 sources]
1320: Visitation - Visitation by Bishop Adam de Orleton of Hereford who was concerned with the state of monastic observance that he witnessed. [4 sources]
pre 1325: Community - At some point before his death, John Hastings, the patron of Abergavenny, arranged that the French monks of the priory should be replaced with Englishmen.  [1 sources]
1339: Custody - The prior of Abergavenny was allowed to retain custody of his house for the fine of £20 and an annual payment of £8.  [1 sources]
1343: Allegations - It was rumoured that the prior of Abergavenny had fled to France taking with him the monastery’s jewels and money. [1 sources]
c.1405: Destruction - Abergavenny was badly hit by Owain Glyn Dŵr’s revolt and like many other houses suffered devastation. [1 sources]
c.1417: Rejuvenation - Robert Eton, a monk of Christ Church Canterbury, succeeded William as prior and successfully restored Abergavenny’s fortunes.  [1 sources]
1428: Papal indulgence - Maintenance work was financed through a papal indulgence. [1 sources]
1441: Change in status - Abergavenny becomes a denizen priory. [1 sources]
1534 : Act of Supremacy - On 12 September the prior, William Marley, acknowledged royal supremacy. [2 sources]
c.1535: Wealth - On the eve of the Dissolution Abergavenny’s income was assessed for the Valor Ecclesiasticus at £129.  [3 sources][1 archives]
1536: Dissolution - The house was surveyed 7 June and dissolved 5-6 September. [4 sources]
 
Graphic.