Monastic Wales.








Event detail for site: St Dogmaels

c. 1113: Foundation

St Dogmaels was founded as a priory c. 1113 when Robert fitz Martin, lord of Cemais (W. Wales), granted the ancient church of St Dogmael to the Norman abbey of Tiron, to establish a monastery for a prior and twelve monks.

In 1113 Robert visited Tiron and brought back with him thirteen monks to form the founding community of his new priory.

Robert's establishment of a monastery at St Dogmaels was evidently a fulfilment of his father, Martin's, wishes, for Martin had originally granted these churches to Tiron and was in fact buried in the choir of the new church.


Robert's endowment included the churches of Tregent, and Wadtre, the chapel of Cockington with it lands and privileges and the manor of Rattery, Devon.

People associated with this event

Robert fitz Martin , lord of Camain / Cemais (founder)

Bibliographical sources

Printed sources

Hilling, John B, Cilgerran castle, St Dogmaels Abbey, Cadw guides (Cardiff, 1992) pp. 26, 34

Pritchard, Emily M., The History of St Dogmaels Abbey together with her Cells, Pill, Caldey and Glascareg and the Mother Abbey of Tiron (London, 1907) pp. 27-9, 40-7

Other events in the history of this site

c.1113: Foundation - St Dogmaels was founded as a priory c. 1113 when Robert fitz Martin, lord of Cemais (W. Wales), granted the ancient church of St Dogmael to the Norman abbey of Tiron, to establish a monastery for a prior and twelve monks.  [2 sources]
1118: Status - Permission was granted to raise the priory to the status of an abbey. [2 sources]
1120: Change in status - St Dogmaels was elevated from a priory to an abbey. [1 sources]
1138: Plundered - The abbey was looted by mercenaries. [2 sources]
1150 -1157: Building work - Extensive building work was undertaken. [1 sources]
1188: Hospitality - Gerald of Wales and Archbishop Baldwin stayed at the abbey during their preaching tour of Wales. [1 sources]
1246: Royal gift - Henry III granted the community twenty marks 'for the fabric of the church'. [1 sources]
c.1291: Wealth - According to the Taxatio the abbey was valued at £58 11s 4d. [2 sources]
1296: Royal petition - The abbot and convent requested permission to receive rents in Cardigan. [2 sources][1 archives]
1318: Clerical taxation - The abbot and convent complained of excessive taxation. [2 sources][1 archives]
1320: Royal petition - The abbot and convent requested the king to confirm to them the church of Maenclochog. [1 sources][1 archives]
c.1349: Numbers - Numbers fell as a consequence of the Black Death. [1 sources]
1402: Visitation - The bishop of St David's conducted a visitation of the house. [1 sources]
1504: Visitation - The abbey was visited on 16 July.  [2 sources]
1534: Numbers - In 1534 the community comprised an abbot (William Here) and eight monks who subscribed to the Act of Supremacy. [3 sources][1 archives]
c.1535: Wealth - According to the Valor Ecclesiasticus the monastery had a net income of £87 8s 6d.
 [2 sources]
1537: Dissolution - The house was dissolved on 24 February 1537 under the 1536 Act of Suppression. [5 sources]
 
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