Monastic Wales.








Event detail for site: Grace Dieu

1226 (24 April): Foundation

Eventually a founding community was sent from Dore Abbey, Herefordshire.

After protracted negotiations the founding community from Dore Abbey was sent to colonise the new site at Grace Dieu which was the last Cistercian abbey to be founded in Wales.
The community did not originally settle at the present site for the monks were forced to relocate c. 1236. The first site was probably on the west bank of the River Trothy.
Robinson suggests that the delay in founding the house - negotiations took some ten years - can likely be attributed to local unrest.

People associated with this event

John of Monmouth , lord of Monmouth (petitioner)

Bibliographical sources

Printed sources

The Cistercian Abbeys of Britain: far from the concourse of men, ed. David M. Robinson (London, 1998) pp. 121-123

Medieval Religious Houses, England and Wales, ed. R. Neville Hadcock and David Knowles (Harlow, 1971) pp. 113, 120

Cowley, F. G., The Monastic Order in South Wales 1066-1349 (Cardiff, 1977) pp. 27-28

Harrison, J., 'The troubled foundation of Grace Dieu Abbey', The Monmouthshire Antiquary, 14 (1998) pp. 25-26

Robinson, David M., The Cistercians in Wales: Architecture and Archaeology 1130-1540, Society of Antiquaries of London, Research Committee Report (London, 2006) pp. 247-248

Other events in the history of this site

1217: Preparation for foundation - John, lord of Monmouth, requested permission from the Cistercian General Chapter to found an abbey in SE Wales. [4 sources]
1226 (24 April): Foundation - Eventually a founding community was sent from Dore Abbey, Herefordshire. [5 sources]
1232: Trouble - The abbot and his monk companion were held captive by Welshmen. [1 sources][1 archives]
1233: Destruction - The house was razed to the ground.  [2 sources]
1235: Grant - Henry III granted the monks twenty trees from the Forest of Dean to rebuild their house which had recently been destroyed. [2 sources]
1236: Relocation - The community relocated from its original site (probably on west bank of the R. Trothy) to its present site [2 sources]
1240: Grant - Henry III granted the community four oaks from Grosmont Forest to help with building work. [2 sources]
1253: Grant - Henry III granted the community two oaks from Seinfremy Wood. [2 sources]
1276: Proposed move - The community sought to relocate to escape troubles in the area. [2 sources]
c.1291: Wealth - The house had an estimated net income of £18 5s 8d and some 729 ha arable under the plough. [4 sources]
1351: Resignation - Abbot Hugh [or Roger?] of Chepstow sought to resign from office for he felt the burden of administering the monastery was too great.  [4 sources]
c.1356: Patronage - Henry, duke of Lancaster and lord of Monmouth (d. 1361), granted the community the chantry chapel in Monmouth Castle. [2 sources]
1484: Resignation - John Mitulton resigned from the abbacy on account of the persecution of his enemies. [2 sources]
1521: Contributions to the General Chapter - The abbot of Neath collected a contribution of 3s 4d from Grace Dieu to send to the General Chapter. [1 sources]
c.1535: Wealth - According to the Valor Ecclesiasticus the house had an income of only £19 4s 4d.  [3 sources][1 archives]
1536 : Suppression - The abbey was dissolved on 3 September 1536, under the 1536 Act of Suppression. [3 sources]
 
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