List of monastic houses in Wales is a catalogue of abbeys, priories, friaries and other monastic religious houses in Wales.
In this article, alien houses are included, as are smaller establishments such as cells and notable monastic granges (particularly those with resident monks), and also camerae of the military orders of monks (Templars and Hospitallers). The numerous monastic hospitals per se are not included here unless at some time the foundation had, or was purported to have, the status or function of an abbey, priory, friary, preceptory or commandery.
The geographical co-ordinates provided are sourced from details provided by Ordnance Survey publications.
Overview
Article layout Communities/provenance: this column shows the status and communities existing at each establishment, together with such dates as have been established as well as the fate of the establishment after dissolution, and the current status of the site.
Formal Name or Dedication: this column shows the formal name of the establishment or the person in whose name the church is dedicated, where known.
Alternative Names: some of the establishments have had alternative names over the course of time. In order to assist in text-searching such alternatives in name or spelling have been provided.
Abbreviations and key
+ The sites listed are ruins unless indicated thus: * indicates current monastic function + indicates current non-monastic ecclesiastic function (including remains incorporated into later structure) ^ indicates current non-ecclesiastic function (including remains incorporated into later structure) $ indicates remains limited to earthworks etc. # indicates no identifiable trace of the monastic foundation remains ~ indicates exact site of monastic foundation unknown Locations with names in italics indicate probable duplication (misidentification with another location)or non-existent foundations (either erroneous reference or proposed foundation never implemented).
+ Trusteeship denoted as follows: Cadw Cadw — Welsh Historic Monuments
List of establishments by county
Anglesey
FoundationImageCommunities & provenanceFormal name or dedication & alternative namesOnLine references & locationCaergybi MonasteryCeltic monksfounded 6th century (380) by St Cybi (St Kebius);Secular canons collegiate 12th century?;dissolved c.1547;ecclesiastical college built on site; granted to Francis Morrice 1609Holyhead Monastery;Caer Gybi MonasteryLlanfaes FriaryFranciscan Friars Minor, Conventual (under the Custody of Worcester)founded c.1237–45 by Llywelyn ab Iorwerth, Prince of Gwynedd and Wales;dissolved 1538 Llanfechell ClasCeltic monasteryfounded by St Machudd (Mechell)Llangaffo ClasCeltic monasteryfounded (at an early date) by St Caffo;dissolved 13th centuryPenmon PrioryCeltic monksfounded 6th century, reputedly by St Seirioldestroyed in raids by the Danes;subsequently rebuilt;Augustinian Canons Regular(Benedictine monks?)re-founded 1221 by Llywelyn Fawr, Prince of Gwynedddissolved. c.1564; granted to John MooreGlannagh PrioryPenmon Priory, St Seiriol's Holy Well, and DovecoteYnys Lannog CellCeltic monasteryfounded 6th century by St Seiriol;Augustinian Canons Regulardependent on Penmonfounded 1237–1414;dissolved 1536?Priestholme Cell;Puffin Island Cell
Bridgend
FoundationImageCommunities & provenanceFormal name or dedication & alternative namesOn-line references & locationEwenny Priory – St Michael (?)apparent early priory founded by John Lou[n]dres;St Michael?Ewenny PrioryBenedictine monkscell dependent on Gloucester, Gloucestershire;founded before 1141, granted to Gloucester by Maurice, of London;dissolved 1540 (1536); granted (leased) to Sir Edward Carn, who purchased it in 1545;(Cadw)St Michael____________________Ogmore Priory;Wenny Prioryhttp://www.nlw.org.uk/cgi-bin/anw/search2?coll_id=1227&inst_id=33&term=Turbervill%20family
Cardiff
FoundationImageCommunities & provenanceFormal name or dedication & alternative namesOnLine references & locationCardiff BlackfriarsDominican Friars (under the Visitation of Oxford)founded before 1242;dissolved 1538Cardiff GreyfriarsFranciscan Friars Minor, Conventual (under the Custody of Bristol)founded before 1284;dissolved 1538Cardiff PrioryBenedictine monksdependent on Tewkesbury, Gloucestershirefounded before 1106(?), parish church of St Mary granted by Robert fitz Hamon and others;dissolved 1403The Blessed Virgin MaryCardiff WhitefriarsCarmelite Friars — Cardiff Whitefriars — given by W. Dugdale, Monsticon Anglicanum, from Willis, Llandaff, p.11 considered doubtful,Cardiff Whitefriars — doubtful: Sir John E. Lloyd rejectedLlandaff MonasteryCeltic monksfounded 6th century (522) by St Dubricius;secular collegiateepiscopal diocesan cathedralfounded 1107; restored 18th & 19th century; extantLlandaffe Monastery
Carmarthenshire
FoundationImageCommunities & provenanceFormal name or dedication & alternative namesOnLine references & locationBachannis Monasterypurportedly founded c.513 by St PiroCarmarthen GreyfriarsFranciscan Friars Minor, Conventual (under the Custody of Bristol);founded before 1284;dissolved 1538; granted to Sir Thomas Gresham 1551/2;site now occupied by Greyfriars shopping centreCaermarthen FriaryCarmarthen ClasCeltic monksfounded 6th century by St Dewi;dissolved c.1120;Benedictine priory (later Augustinian) established on site (see immediately below)LlandeulyddogCarmarthen PrioryBenedictine monksSt Peter's church granted by Henry I on site of Celtic (see immediately above);cell of Battle, Sussex;independent priory;monks induced to leave 1125 in order to found an Augustinian establishment;Augustinian Canons Regular — Arroasian(?)founded before 1127 by King Henry I;dissolved 1536; granted to Richard Andrews and Nicholas Temple 1543/4The Priory Church of Saint John the Evangelist and Saint Teulyddog, Carmarthen____________________Caermarthen PrioryKidwelly PrioryBenedictine monks — from Sherborne, Dorsetdependent on Sherborne;founded 1114 (c.1130), site granted by Roger, Bishop of Sarum;dissolved 1539 The Priory Church of Saint Mary, Kidwellynow The Parish and Priory Church of Saint Mary, Kidwelly ____________________Cydweli Priory;Cadwell PrioryLlanarthney ClasCeltic monksfounded 6th century? by St Dewi;parochial from c.1220Llandeilo MonasteryCeltic monksfounded (in the time of St David) 6th century by St Teilo;parochial? from c.1107Llandeilo Fawr MonasteryLlandovery PrioryBenedictine monkscell dependent on Great Malvern, Worcestershire;founded c.1110 by the Cliffords, church granted by Richard fitz Pons before 1126;dissolved c.1185 due to misconduct of the monksdedication unknownSt Clears Priory Cluniac monksfounded 1147–84 (c.1100);dissolved c.1414;granted to All Souls College, Oxford;church in parochial use from 1920The Priory Church of Saint Mary Magdalene, Saint ClearsSt. Clears Talley AbbeyCeltic monks founded before 1066;Premonstratensian Canonsdaughter house of St-Jean, Amiens, Francefounded c.1184-9 (1197), credited to Lord Rhys Gruffydd Price (Rhys ap Tewdwr, Rhese Griffith Price);dissolved c.1536(?) and retained by the Crown;(Cadw)The Abbey Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary and Saint John the Baptist____________________Abaty Talyllychau;Tallagh Abbey;Tallesch;TallachWhitland AbbeyCistercian monks — from Treffgarndaughter house of Clairvaux;(community sent to West Wales from Clairvaux 16 September 1140, temporarily settled at Treffgarn 1144 by Bernard, Bishop of St Davids)founded here c.1151;dissolved 1539; granted to Henry Audley and John Cordel 1544 The Blessed Virgin Mary____________________Albalanda Abbey; 'Abelanda' Abbey;Ty Gwyn ar DafWhitland Abbey
Ceredigion
FoundationImageCommunities and provenanceFormal name or dedication and alternative namesOn-line references and locationCardigan PrioryBenedictine monkspriory cell dependent on Gloucester, Gloucestershire;founded c.1110–15;priory cell dependent on Chertsey, Surrey after 1165 (before 1158?);dissolved 1538; granted to Bisham, Berkshire and subsequently to William and Mary Cavendish 1539/40;converted into a mansion;opened as Cardigan District and Memorial Hospital 1922The Priory Church of Our Lady of Cardigan ____________________Cardigan CellLlanbadarn Fawr Priory Celtic monksfounded 6th century;destroyed before 1100;Benedictine monkscell dependent on Gloucester;church of St Paternus granted to Gloucester by Gilbert fitz Richard 1111;founded c.1116-7;lost from Gloucester 1136;secular collegiaterefounded before 1144;dissolved ?c.1361-2The Priory Church of Saint Padarn, Llanbadarn FawrSt PaternusLlanddewi-brefi Clasmonksfounded 6th century by St David;secular collegiatefounded 1287 (1187) by Thomas Beck, Bishop of St David's;dissolved c.1547St David____________________Llandewi-breviLlanllyr PrioryCistercian nunsfounded c.1180 (before 1197) by Rhees ap Gruffydd, Lord Rhys;dissolved 1536; granted to William Sackville and John Dudley 1553;site currently on privately owned landThe Blessed Virgin Mary____________________Llanleir Priory;Llanllŷr;Lanfer;Laller;Lanter;LlanweirStrata Florida AbbeyCistercian monksdaughter house of Whitland, Carmarthenshire;transferred from earlier foundation of Strata Florida at Yr Hen Fynachlog (see immediately below)founded 1184 by Rhys ap Gruffydd;dissolved 1539; granted to the Stedman family;(Cadw)The Blessed Virgin MaryYr Hen Fynachlog (Strata Florida, earlier site) Cistercian monks — from Whitland, Carmarthenshirefounded 1 June 1164 by Robert fitzStephen;transferred to new site at Strata Florida (see immediately above) after 1184The Blessed Virgin Mary____________________ 'The Old Monastery' Yspyty-YstwythCistercian monksgrange and supposed hospice dependent on Strata Florida;founded c.1180(?) The Blessed Virgin Mary
Conwy
FoundationImageCommunities & provenanceFormal name or dedication & alternative namesOn-line references & locationAberconwy Abbey + Cistercian monksdaughter house of Strata Florida;(community founded at Rhedynog-felen 24 (27) July 1186);transferred here 1190 (before 1200) by Llywelyn Fawr of Gwynedd, removed from Rhedynog-felen, founded by Llewellvyn ab Iorwerth, becoming benefactor and patron before c.1200;community transferred to new site at Maenan 1283;church now in parochial useThe Abbey Church of Saint Mary and All Saints____________________Abaty Aberconwy;Conway AbbeyAberconwy Abbey Abergele ClasCeltic monksfounded before 856Maenan Abbey Cistercian monks — from Aberconwy(community founded at Rhedynog-felen 24 (27) July 1186);transferred here 1283 after forced move by order of Edward I;dissolved c.1538; granted to Elezeus Wynne (the Wynne family) 1562/3;in ownership of William Frederick;site now occupied by hotel and groundsThe Abbey Church of Saint Mary and All Saints____________________Abaty Maenan;Maynan AbbeyMaenan Abbey Gwytherin NunneryCeltic nunsconnected with St WinefrideWitheriac NunneryYsbyty Ifan PreceptoryKnights Hospitallerfounded c.1190;united with Halston, Shropshire 1294; in use 1338 but no longer housed a community;dissolution unknownYsbyty Ifan;Dol Gynwal Preceptory
Denbighshire