Tintern Abbey, Tintern (South Wales)

Cistercian abbey, founded in 1131 in the beautiful Wye valley.

Summary 13th century buildings (or older) Information provided Public car parking for a charge (nearby)

Introduction

Cistercian abbey, founded in 1131 in the beautiful Wye valley. Remarkably complete abbey church rebuilt in the later thirteenth and early fourteenth centuries, with extensive remains of cloister and associated monastic buildings. 

History to the present day

Tintern Abbey was founded in 1131 by the Anglo-Norman lord of Chepstow, Walter fitz Richard de Clare. He granted land to a small group of monks from the Cistercian abbey of l’Aumône in France. The position of Tintern Abbey is typical of the remote sites chosen for their monasteries by the Cistercians.

At first, the monks probably lived and worshipped in temporary timber buildings, though by the mid-twelfth century they had erected a stone church and cloisters. The community grew and during the first half of the thirteenth century the abbey buildings were expanded. The superb Gothic church that still stands, though in ruins, was begun in 1269. It was consecrated in 1301, almost certainly in the presence of Roger Bigod, fifth earl of Norfolk, who supported the abbey.

The monks farmed their large estates with the help of lay brothers. The land was organized into farms known as granges, and they worked hard to improve the land and increase productivity.

Tintern continued to grow through the later Middle Ages despite the effects of the Black Death, a great plague that struck Britain in 1348, and the uprising of Owain Glyn Dwr against Wales's English rulers between 1400 and 1415. Further small-scale building projects were carried out up until the reign of King Henry VIII.

Then, in September 1536, Tintern surrendered to the King during the suppression of the monasteries, and Henry VIII seized all its land and wealth. The buildings and land were given to Henry Somerset, the Earl of Worcester. He began to rent out parts of the land to local people and soon the area around the abbey was crowded with cottages, workshops and industrial buildings. Iron wire was produced here and further up the valley. The buildings fell into disrepair, and the church was used for playing quoits.

Tintern lay forgotten until the late eighteenth century, when it became fashionable to search out wild landscapes and beautiful ruins. Poets (including Wordsworth) and artists (including Turner) of the Romantic movement came in search of the 'sublime' and the 'picturesque'. Travellers flocked to the area, and were able to reach Tintern by boat from Ross-on-Wye. The railway brought still more tourists after 1876.

In 1901 the site was saved for the nation when it was purchased by the Crown. Major programmes of conservation were first carried out between 1901 and 1928. In 1984 Tintern Abbey came into the care of Cadw, part of the Welsh Assembly Government. Researching and maintaining the ruins and improving facilities for visitors are an ongoing process. 

Arrival information and how to find us

Address: Tintern Abbey, South Wales, , United Kingdom

Opening times:

01.11.09 - 31.03.10: Monday - Saturday 9.30 - 16.00, Sunday 11.00 - 16.00

01.04.10 - 30.06.10: Monday - Sunday 9.30 - 17.00

01.07.10 - 31.08.10: Monday - Sunday 9.30 - 18.00

01.09.10 - 31.10.10: Monday - Sunday 9.30 - 17.00

01.11.10 - 28.02.11: Monday - Saturday 10.00 - 16.00, Sunday 11.00 - 16.00

01.03.11 - 31.03.11: Monday - Sunday 9.30 - 17.00 

 

Admission prices:

Adult: £3.60

Concession: £3.20

Family: £10.40 

Entry is free for Welsh residents aged 60 and over or 16 and under who have a valid pass..