Basingwerk was founded by Earl Ranulf II (de Gernon) of Chester as a Savigniac house and was later incorporated within the Cistercian family. show more...
The exact origins of the house are uncertain and it is not known for sure where the first community settled. Debate regarding the exact location of the original site continues.
As a border abbey Basingwerk was patronised by both the Welsh and Anglo-Norman nobility. Royal benefactors included Henry II, Prince Llywelyn ab Iorwerth (d. 1240), Prince Dafydd ap Llywelyn (d. 1246) and Edward I.
Dedicated to: Virgin Mary Medieval Diocese: St Asaph Affiliated to: Savigny (mother-house); Buildwas (mother-house) Lordship at foundation: Chester Access: Public Owned by: Cadw
Main events in the history of this site
c.1131: Foundation - The community likely arrived in 1131 but no later than 1132. [2 sources] pre 1140: Patronage - At this time the house was under the patronage of Llwellyn the Great. 1147: Reconstitution - The Order of Savigny joined the Cistercian Order and Basingwerk duly became a Cistercian house. [2 sources] 1157: Relocation - Basingwerk became a dependency of Buildwas and likely moved site at this time. [3 sources] 1188: Visit - Gerald of Wales and Archbishop Baldwin stayed at the house while preaching the Crusade. [1 source] pre 1240: Patronage - The community received Gelli as a gift from Prince Llywelyn ab Iorwerth. [3 sources] 1240: Patronage - Prince Dafydd ap Llywelyn (d. 1246) granted the community the church of Holywell and the shrine chapel of St Winifred. [2 sources] 1253: Concession - The community received permission to celebrate St Winifred's Feast Day (3 November) as a Feast of Twelve Lessons. [2 sources] 1276-7; 1282-1283: Destruction - The abbey sustained extensive damage during the Edwardian Wars. [2 sources] c.1280: Appointment - Edward I appointed one of the monks chaplain of his new castle at Flint. [1 source] 1284: Compensation - The house was awarded £100 compensation from Edward I for damages incurred during the warfare. [2 sources] 1290: Royal concession - The abbey received royal permission from Edward I to hold a weekly market at the annual fair of Glossop. [2 sources] c.1291: Wealth - According to the Taxatio Ecclesiastica commissioned by Pope Nicholas IV Basingwerk had a recorded annual income of £68 8s 0d. [3 sources] 1292: Concession - The community was granted royal permission to hold a weekly market at the annual fair of Holywell. [2 sources] 1295: Royal summons - The abbot of Basingwerk was one of four Welsh Cistercian abbots to be summoned to Edward I's parliament. [1 source] c.1346: Hospitality - The abbot of Basingwerk claimed that his house was burdened with hospitality since it was near the road. [1 source] 1347: Numbers - At this time there were about twenty monks at Basingwerk. [1 source] c.1355: Devastation - At this time the abbey was described as in a ruinous state. [1 source] 1379: Clerical taxation - The abbot of Basingwerk appeared in the 1379 clerical taxation. [1 source][1 archive] c.1405: Destruction - In the early fifteenth century Basingwerk encouraged pilgrims to visit its shrine at Holywell, seemingly in the hope that this would raise funds to help towards reconstruction work. [1 source] 1416: Pilgrimage - Henry V made a pilgrimage, on foot, from Shrewsbury to Basingwerk's shrine of St Winifred's. [1 source] 1454: Deposition - Abbot Henry Wirral was arrested for various felonies in Flint and deposed from office. [1 source] 1481 - 1522: Restoration - Abbot Thomas Pennant restored the abbey's fortunes. [1 source] 1482 (18 June ): Complaint - The abbot of Basingwerk was amongst those who complained about the abbot of Woburn. [1 source] 1521: Contributions to general funds - The abbot of Neath collected 20s from Basingwerk on behalf of the Cistercian General Chapter. [1 source] 1526-1536: Numbers - Under Abbot Nicholas there were about three monks. [1 source] c.1535: Wealth - According to the Valor Ecclsiasticus the house had an estimated net income of £150 7s 3d. [3 sources][1 archive] c.1536 (late) x spring 1537: Dissolution - The precise date of the suppression of the abbey is not known but monastic life had certainly terminated at Basingwerk by spring 1537. [2 sources] 1537, 10 May: Custody of site - The site was leased to Hugh Starkey. [1 source] 1540: Custody of site - Ownership changed as the site was sold to Henry ap Harry of Llansa and Peter Mutton of Meliden. The Mostyns of Talacre later acquired the site. [1 source] 1923: Ownership - The former site of the abbey passed into State care. + 27 minor events.Show minor events
Jones, Arthur, 'Basingwerk Abbey'Historical essays in Honour of James Tait ed.J.G. Edwards, V. H. Galbraith and E. F. Jacob(Manchester 1933) pp.169-178
Kerr, Julie, 'Cistercian hospitality in the later Middle Ages'Monasteries and Society in the British Isles in the Later Middle Ages Studies in the History of Medieval Religion 35 vols ed.Janet Burton and Karen Stöber(Woodbridge 2008) pp.25-39
Kirke, Henry, 'Monastic Settlement in the Peak Forest' Journal of the Derbyshire Archaeological and Natural History Society new series 1 (1924/1925) pp.222-233
Knowles, David and St. Jospeh, John Kenneth Sinclair, 'Monastic Sites from the Air' (Cambridge 1952) pp. 108-109
Stöber, Karen, 'Social networks of late medieval Welsh monasteries'Monasteries and Society in the Later Middle Ages Studies in the History of Medieval Religion 35 ed.Janet Burton and Karen Stöber (Woodbridge 2008) pp.12-24
Taylor, A. J., 'Basingwerk Abbey'Publication of Ministry of Public Buildings and Works (1946)
Thomas, R. A., 'The History of Basingwerk Abbey'Proceedings of the Llandudno, Colwyn Bay and District Field Club 11 (1924/25) pp.17-34
