Monastic Wales.








Event detail for site: Valle Crucis

c. 1535: Wealth

According to the Valor Ecclesiasticus the abbey had a net annual income of £188 8s 0d.

At this time c. 74% of the abbey's annual income was, quite remarkably, derived from the tithes of its benefices [Bryneglwys, Chirk, Llandysilio-yn-lâl, Llangollen, Llansannfraid, Glyceiriog, Ruabon, Wrexham].
There were six monks at Valle Crucis and the monastery was recorded as being in a delapidated state and in debt (c. £200) to the king and others.

Bibliographical sources

Printed sources

Valor ecclesiasticus temp. Henr. VIII. Auctoritate regia institutus, Record Commission. Great Britain, 6, vols, ed. John Caley and J. Hunter (London, 1810-1834, reprint 1976) vol. 4, pp. 446-7

Evans, Derek Haydn, Valle Crucis Abbey (Cadw: rev. edn; Cardiff, 1995) pp. 7, 12

Robinson, David M., The Cistercians in Wales: Architecture and Archaeology 1130-1540, Society of Antiquaries of London, Research Committee Report (London, 2006) p. 290

Web links (open in new window)

Detail of Valor Ecclesiasticus (View website)


Other events in the history of this site

1201Foundation -  [4 sources]
1225Dispute - The community engaged in a dispute with its neighbouring Cistercians at Strata Marcella. [1 sources]
1227Dispute - The community engaged in a dispute with its neighbouring Cistercians at Cwmhir. [1 sources]
1234Official reprimand - The General Chapter reprimanded the community for allowing women to enter the abbey precincts. [2 sources]
c.1236Destruction - The abbey was destroyed by fire. [1 sources]
1236Burial - The abbey's founder, Madog ap Gruffydd Maelor, was buried in the church. [2 sources]
1236Confirmation - Madog's son, Gruffudd Maelor, confirmed all the gifts and liberties his father had granted to the abbey. [2 sources]
1269Burial - Gruffudd Maelor, the son of the founder, was buried at the house. [1 sources]
1274Allegiance - The abbot was one of those who wrote to the pope in support of Llywelyn ap Gruffudd. [2 sources]
1276-1277 Destruction - The abbey suffered devastation during Edward I's Welsh wars. [1 sources]
1282, 11 December Loan - Llywellyn ap Gruffydd (the last) loaned the community £40 to 'expedite and sustain Abbot Madog' on abbey business. [2 sources]
1282-1283Destruction - The abbey again suffered devastation during Edward I's Welsh wars. [2 sources]
1282-1332Literary production - The Brut y Tywysogyon [Chronicle of the Princes] was compiled at Valle Crucis. [3 sources][1 archives]
1284Compensation - Edward I granted the community £160 by way of compensation for losses incurred during the warfare.  [2 sources]
c.1291Wealth - According to the Taxatio Ecclesiastica the community's lands and granges were valued at just £14 14s 89. [4 sources]
1295Royal visit - Edward I visited the abbey in July and made an offering at the High Altar. [2 sources]
c.1300Patronage - At this time the house was under the patronage of Richard, earl of Arundel. [1 sources]
1306Burial - Madog ap Gruffudd, the great-grandson of the founder, was buried before the High Altar. [2 sources]
1309Attendance of General Chapter - The abbot of Valle Crucis was present at the General Chapter. [3 sources]
1330-1344Building work - The gable top at the west front of the church records that this building was undertaken by Abbot Adam (1330-1344). [1 sources]
1409-post 1419Custody - Valle Crucis was at this time held in commendam by Robert of Lancaster, who from 1410 was bishop of St Asaph. [3 sources]
1450-c. 1527Revival - Abbots Siôn ap Rhisiart (c. 1455-61), Dafydd ab Ieuan (c. 1480-1503) and Siôn Llywd (c. 1503-1527) raised the monastery's profile. [1 sources]
pre 1493Corrodian - The Welsh bard, Guto'r Glyn, was at this time a corrodian of the abbey. [2 sources]
1528Numbers - At this time there were seven monks under Abbot Robert Salusbury, who was deposed in 1534. [2 sources]
1534Visitation - In February a visitation of Valle Crucis was conducted by Abbot Leyshon Thomas of Neath who accused Abbot Robert Salusbury / Salisbury (1528-35) of various crimes and excesses.  [5 sources]
1535Abbatial arrest - Abbot Robert Salisbury of Valle Crucis was arrested for his part in a highway robbery. [6 sources]
c.1535Wealth - According to the Valor Ecclesiasticus the abbey had a net annual income of £188 8s 0d. [4 sources]
1535Community life - There were at this time six monks living at the house. The two royal commissioners remarked on the general state of degeneration - and debt. [1 sources]
c.1537Dissolution - The abbey was dissolved at some time between November 1536 and January 1537. At this time the abbey was under the patronage of Henry Fitzroy, duke of Richmond and Somerset.
 [6 sources]

 
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