Only fragmentary remains survive of Cwmhir, 'the abbey of the long valley', but since 1540 five of the nave bays have been preserved in the parish church at Llanidloes, some ten miles away. show more...
Following the death of its founder, Cadwallon, in 1179 Cwmhir was patronised by Roger Mortimer, the Marcher lord who was responsible for Cadwallon's death. Mortimer's successors continued as patrons of the abbey.
The monks of Cwmhir had divided loyalties for while they were Welsh and until 1240 the area was under Llywelyn ab Iorwerth's power, the community had also to show allegiance to the king of England. Moreover, the monks enjoyed the patronage of the Marcher lords as well as of the native Welsh. Although Cwmhir benefitted from both sides it suffered at the hands of each. In 1229, for example, Cwmhir's granges were burnt by royal troops while c. 1401-2 the abbey was badly destroyed during the Owain Glyn Dŵr revolt. Cwmhir did not seemingly recover from this for by 1535 the house had an income of just c. £25 and at its dissolution in 1537 there were only three monks.
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