Site details: Grace Dieu


Home dershane Project team Project News Future plans Contact us Search the database Browse list of sites Browse list of orders Browse bibliography & archives Browse people Browse articles Glossary of terms Monastic Wales is not responsible for the content of external internet sites	Display site: Grace Dieu (Abbey) also known as: Grace Dieu Order: Cistercian Grace Dieu Abbey was founded by John, lord of Monmouth (d. 1248), and was the last Cistercian house to be established in Wales. The community struggled from its foundation until its dissolution and while the monks had properties on both sides of the Wye, Grace Dieu remained one of the poorest houses in Britain. show details of standing remains Standing remains The former monastic site is scheduled as an ancient monument but there are no standing remains of the monastery buildings and it is not even certain where precisely the abbey was ultimately situated. Dedicated to: Virgin Mary Medieval Diocese: Llandaff Affiliated to: Dore, Abbey Dore (mother-house) Lordship at foundation: Monmouth Access: Public; no remains above ground Owned by: Scheduled site Main 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 source][1 archive] 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 source] c.1535: Wealth - According to the Valor Ecclesiasticus the house had an income of only £19 4s 4d. [3 sources][1 archive] 1536 : Suppression - The abbey was dissolved on 3 September 1536, under the 1536 Act of Suppression. [3 sources] + 13 minor events. Show minor events People associated with this site Abbots of Grace Dieu Edmund, first earl of Lancaster (Edmund Crouchback) , lord of Monmouth (patron) Henry III , king of England and lord of Ireland, and duke of Aquitaine (benefactor) Henry of Lancaster [Henry of Grosmont], first duke of Lancaster (patron) John of Monmouth , lord of Monmouth (founder) Bibliographical sources 31 Printed sources show sources The Heads of Religious Houses in England and Wales, II, 1216-1377, ed. D. M. Smith and V. London (CUP: Cambridge, 2001) p. 281 The Cistercian Abbeys of Britain: far from the concourse of men, ed. David M. Robinson (London, 1998) pp. 120-121 The Heads of Religious Houses in England and Wales, III, 1377-1540, ed. David M. Smith (CUP: Cambridge, 2008) pp. 297-8 'Documents relating to the Dissolved Monastery of Grace Dieu', in South Wales and Monmouth Record Society Publications, 2, ed. E. Owen (South Wales Record Society: Cardiff, 1950), pp. 189-199 Medieval Religious Houses, England and Wales, ed. R. Neville Hadcock and David Knowles (Harlow, 1971) pp. 113, 120 Monasticon Anglicanum: a History of the Abbies and other Monasteries, Hospitals, Frieries, and Cathedral and Collegiate Churches, with their Dependencies, in England and Wales, 6 in 8 vols, ed. Sir William Dugdale, revised J. Caley, H. Ellis, B. Bandinel (London, 1817-1830) vol. 5, pp. 685-686 Bradney, J. A., A History of Monmouthshire: From the Coming of the Normans into Wales down to the Present Time, 4 vols (London, 1904-1932) vol. 2, pt 2, pp. 122-127 Burton, Janet, 'The foundation of the British Cistercian houses', in Cistercian Art and Architecture in the British Isles, ed. Christopher Norton and David Park (Cambridge, 1986), pp. 24-39 Cooper, R., Abbeys and Priories of Wales (Swansea, 1992) pp. 57-58 Coppack, Glynn, The White Monks: the Cistercians in Britain 1128-1540 (Stroud, 1998) p. 142 Gray, Madeleine, 'Preface to Cistercians in Wales and the west', Archaeologia Cambrensis, (2007), pp. 17-26 Harper-Bill, Christopher, 'Cistercian visitation in the late Middle Ages: the case of Hailes Abbey', Bulletin of the Institute of Historical Research, 53 (1980), pp. 103-114 Harrison, J., 'The troubled foundation of Grace Dieu Abbey', The Monmouthshire Antiquary, 14 (1998), pp. 25-29 Kerr, Julie E., Life in the Medieval Cloister (Continuum: London and New York, 2009) pp. 190-191 Mein, A. G., 'Hendre farm, Llangattock-Vibon-Avel', Archaeology in Wales, 40 (2000), pp. 109-110 Mein, A. G., 'Abbey Cottage, Llanvihangel-Ystern-Llewern', Archaeology in Wales, 40 (2000), p. 153 Newman, J., The Buildings of Wales: Gwent / Monmouthshire (London, 2000) p. 235 O'Sullivan, J. F., Cistercian settlements in Wales and Monmouthshire, 1140-1540, Fordham Univ. Studies, History series, 2 (New York, 1947) Phillips, Neil and Hamilton, Michael, 'Geophysical survey at Grace Dieu Abbey', Monmouthshire Antiquary, 16 (2000), pp. 51-54 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 Robinson, David M. and Harrison, Stuart, 'Cistercian Cloisters in England and Wales: Part I', Journal of the British Archaeological Association, 159 (2006), pp. 131-207 Williams, David H., The Cistercians in the Early Middle Ages (Leominster, 1998) Williams, David H., White Monks in Gwent and the Borders (Pontypool, 1976) Williams, David H., 'Catalogue of Welsh ecclesiastical seals as known down to AD 1600, 4: Seals of Cistercian monasteries', Archaeologia Cambrensis, 136 (1988), pp. 138-155 Williams, David H., 'Grace Dieu Abbey, An Exploratory Excavation', Monmouthshire Antiquary, 3, pt 1 (1970-1971), pp. 55-58 Williams, David H., 'Grace Dieu Abbey: Addenda', Monmouthshire Antiquary, 2: 1 (1965), p. 62 Williams, David H., 'John Mitulton, Abbot of Grace Dieu', Monmouthshire Antiquary, 2: 4 (1968/9), p. 203 Williams, David H., 'Notes and news: 1) Cistercian Abbots in Medieval Gwent; 2) Grace Dieu Abbey', Monmouthshire Antiquary, 2: 1 (1965), p. 62 Williams, David H., 'Seal of Grace Dieu Abbey', Monmouthshire Antiquary, 4 (1980), p. 54 Williams, David H., 'Grace Dieu Abbey', The Monmouthshire Antiquary, 1 (1961-1964), pp. 85-106 Williams, David Henry and Jenkins, G., 'Grace Dieu', Archaeology in Wales, 10 (1970), pp. 25-26 2 On-line sources show online sources (all open in new window) The Cistercians in Yorkshire Project - Grace Dieu (View website) RCAHMW, Coflein database - Grace Dieu Abbey (View website) Archival sources Trinity College Dublin, 'Margam Chronicle', (Document), (View website) Related articles on Monastic Wales The Cistercians in Wales, Professor Janet Burton Who were the Cistercians?, Professor Janet Burton	Monmouthshire, OS Grid:SO45121311 View site details on COFLEIN (RCAHMW database)[new window]

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