St Dogmael's Abbey, near Cardigan (South Wales)

Founded about 1115 for Tironian monks.

Summary 13th century buildings (or older) Gift shop Information provided

Food and Drinks Tea Room

Introduction

Founded about 1115 for Tironian monks. Extensive remains dating from the twelfth to sixteenth centuries. 

History to the present day

The Norman monastery of St Dogmael’s sits on the banks of the River Teifi. It is named after a sixth century saint and was originally founded as a priory by Robert Fitz Martin who bought a small community of monks over from Tiron in northern France.

By 1120 St Dogmael’s housed at least two dozen French monks Robert was given permission to raise the status of the foundation to an abbey. St Dogmael's Abbey remained under Tironian rule until its dissolution in 1536,. The abbey church was not completed until midway through the thirteenth century although much of the domestic accommodation must have been built during the first eighty years.

The abbey enjoyed more prosperous times after completion of the church and some reconstruction work was carried out on earlier parts of the building damaged during the intermittent wars. Despite this period of affluence, by 1317, St Dogmael's Abbey had serious financial problems. It was also struck by the plague in the middle of the 14th century and by the end of the century only four monks were living there. The situation improved slightly but when St Dogmael's Abbey was dissolved, only eight monks and the abbot were residing at the monastery.

 

Arrival information and how to find us

Address: St Dogmael's Abbey, South Wales, , United Kingdom

Opening times:

 

Open site all year round.

 

Open sites are unstaffed and open to the public with no admission charge at all reasonable times, usually between 10.00 and 16.00 daily.

 

 

Photographs courtesy of CADW photographic library.