Monastic Wales.








Event detail for site: Haverfordwest

1537: Dissolution

The priory was surveyed at the beginning of October 1536 and dissolved under the 1536 Act of Suppression on 19 February 1537.

At the Dissolution there were only four canons living at Haverfordwest with Prior Bathowe (Batho / Bathoo).

Post Suppression
Following its suppression the priory's site was acquired by Richard and Thomas Barlow, who were the brothers of Bishop William of St David's. Later it came into the possession of Sir John Perrot (d. 1592) who seemingly used stone from the site to repair his house at Haroldston.
Since 1982 the site has been in State Care and is now managed by Cadw.

Excavations at the site recovered moulds that were used at the time of the Dissolution when lead was melted and made into ingots.

Bibliographical sources

Printed sources

The Heads of Religious Houses in England and Wales, III, 1377-1540, ed. David M. Smith (CUP: Cambridge, 2008) p. 440

Medieval Religious Houses, England and Wales, ed. R. Neville Hadcock and David Knowles (Harlow, 1971) p. 159

Jack, Sybil, 'Dissolution dates for the monasteries dissolved under the Act of 1536', Bulletin of the Institute of Historical Research, 43 (1970) p. 181

Rees, S. E., Haverfordwest Priory, Welsh Historic Monuments (Cardiff, 1999)

Other events in the history of this site

pre 1210: Foundation - The priory may have been founded as early as 1180 but was likely established 1203x1210. [11 sources]
1210x1230: Building work - The church and main claustral buildings were constructed in the early thitteenth century. [1 sources]
1284: Visitation - Visitation conducted by Archbishop Pecham. [3 sources]
c.1291: Wealth - The Taxatio Ecclesiastica assessed the priory's net income as £17 6s 8d. [1 sources]
1381: Clerical poll tax - Payments required [1 sources][1 archives]
c.1450: Prosperity - At this time the house was flourishing. [1 sources]
1534: Act of Supremacy - William Barlow was prior in 1534 and signed the Act of Supremacy, acknowledging Henry VIII's authority over the pope. [2 sources]
c.1535: Wealth - According to the Valor Ecclesiastica the priory's estimated wealth was £133 11s 1d. [2 sources]
1537: Dissolution - The priory was surveyed at the beginning of October 1536 and dissolved under the 1536 Act of Suppression on 19 February 1537.
 [4 sources]
 
Graphic.