Cardigan was founded by Gilbert fitz Richard, earl of Clare, who granted the church of the Holy Trinity in Cardigan to the monks of St Peter's, Gloucester. Cardigan later became a dependency of Chertsey Abbey (Surrey) and finally of Bisham Priory. On the eve of the Dissolution the priory was a centre of pilgimage, famed for the Burning Taper of Our Lady. show details of standing remains
Standing remains
Following its suppression the claustral buildings were converted into a mansion and in 1922 opened as Cardigan District and Memorial Hospital.The church served the parish and whilst this was extensively rebuilt some medieval stonework survives and also a late fifteenth-century tower.
Dedicated to: Holy Trinity; Virgin Mary Medieval Diocese: St David's Affiliated to: St Peter's, Gloucester (mother-house); Chertsey Abbey (mother-house); Bisham Priory (mother-house) Lordship at foundation: Ceredigion Access: Site occupied by the present Parish Church and Cardigan District and Memorial Hospital Owned by: Representative Body of the Church in Wales
Main events in the history of this site
c.1115: Foundation - Gilbert fitz Richard, earl of Clare (d. 1115), granted the church of the Holy Trinity at Cardigan to the monks of St Peter's, Gloucester, c. 1110 x 1115. [1 source] c.1165: Change of affiliation - By this time ownership of Cardigan had passed from Gloucester to Chertsey Abbey, Surrey. [1 source] c.1291: Wealth - At this time Cardigan held 240 acres of arable. [2 sources] 1322: Custody - By the fourteenth century Cardigan was impoverished, a consequence of warfare, ‘scarcity and other such matters', and was accordingly taken into royal custody. [1 source] 1534: Act of Supremacy - Prior Thomas Hore acknowledged royal supremacy. [3 sources] c.1535: Wealth - According to the Valor Ecclesiasticus the priory’s gross income was £32. [2 sources][1 archive] 1537 (December): Affiliation - Cardigan Priory was granted to Bisham Priory, Berkshire, a former Augustinian house which had just been re-founded as a Benedictine monastery. [2 sources] pre 1538: Pilgrim centre - On the eve of the Dissolution Cardigan Priory was a popular pilgrimage centre. [2 sources][1 archive] 1538: Dissolution - Cardigan was dissolved with its mother-house (Bisham) on 26 June 1538.
At this time there were two monks. [3 sources] 1540 (February) : Ownership - Following its suppression Cardigan was granted to William Cavendish and his wife, Margaret, for £769 8s 4d and duly converted into a mansion. [1 source] 1922: Conversion - The former priory opened as Cardigan District and Memorial Hospital. + 9 minor events.Show minor events
