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Pill (Priory)

also known as: Pill

Order: Tironensian

Pill was founded by Adam de Roche / de Rupe and was situated deep in a valley near Milford Haven. It is likely that the community was mostly Welsh, first drawn from monks of St Dogmaels and later from the locality. As a daughter-house of St Dogmaels Abbey, Pill was saved from suppression as an alien priory in 1391 and continued until the Dissolution. show details of standing remains

Dedicated to: Blessed Virgin Mary and St Budoc Medieval Diocese: St David's
Affiliated to: St Dogmaels (mother-house)
Lordship at foundation: Pembroke
Access: Private
Owned by: Private

Main events in the history of this site

c.1190Foundation - There is much uncertainty about the date of foundation. [4 sources]
1204 x 1219Confirmation - William Marshal I, earl of Pembroke and lord of Haverford, confirmed the priory's holdings. [1 source]
c.1291Fiscal duties - Pill was obliged to pay the annual sum of £9 6s 8d to its mother-house, St Dogmaels. [1 source]
c.1294Inspeximus - Edward I confirmed the priory's previous charters including the foundation charter of Adam de Roche. [2 sources]
1314Burial - John de Roche willed to be buried at Pill. [2 sources]
1381Clerical poll tax - Payments required from the community [1 source][1 archive]
1388Proposed visitation - John Sampson was commissioned by the archbishop of Canterbury to conduct a visitation of St Dogmaels and Pill. [1 source]
1405Diocesan control - From 1405 St Dogmaels and its daughter-houses of Pill and Caldey were placed under episcopal jurisdiction and subject to episcopal visitation. [1 source]
1405Visitation - In April 1405 Prior Walter Robjoy and the community at Pill had their first episcopal visitation. [2 sources]
1504Visitation - On 10 September visitation of the priory was conducted by a representative of the archbishop of Canterbury since the see of St David's was vacant.  [1 source][1 archive]
1534Act of Supremacy - On 20 July 1534 the prior, William Watts, and the monks of Pill gathered in the chapter-house and signed the Act of Supremacy, thereby acknowledging Henry VIII as head of the church and agreeing to call the pope bishop. [5 sources]
c.1535Wealth - According to the Valor Ecclesiasticus Pill had an estimated annual income of £67 15s 3d gross and £52 2s 5d net after charges. [5 sources][1 archive]
1537Dissolution -  [6 sources]
+ 11 minor events. Show minor events

People associated with this site

Adam de la Rupe (Roche) (founder)

Priors of Pill

Bibliographical sources

11 Printed sources

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4 On-line sources

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Archival sources

The National Archives, 'Exchequer, King's Remembrancer, Clerical Subsidies - Pill, 1381', (Document), (View website)

National Monuments Record Collections, 'Reports on geophysical and topographical survey of Pill Priory, 1996-7, 1999', (Document), (View website)

Related articles on Monastic Wales

Remnants of Pill Priory,

Images of this site

Pill Priory today

Pill Priory, remains of the south transept

Pill priory, site of burials, NE of the chancel arch


Poll tax return for Pill, 1381

Pill Priory today

Pembrokeshire, OS Grid:SM90270726
View site details on COFLEIN (RCAHMW database)[new window]


 
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