- Whitland Abbey
Whitland Abbey (Welsh: "Abaty Hendy-gwyn ar Daf" or simply "Y Tŷ Gwyn ar Daf";
Latin , "Albalanda") was aCistercian abbey nearWhitland in south-westWales , now inCarmarthenshire .Whitland was founded on 16 September 1140 by monks from the mother house of
Clairvaux . In 1144 it was located at Little Trefgarn nearHaverfordwest . It moved to Whitland in about 1155, a site having been granted by John of Torrington. The abbey founded a number of daughter houses in Wales, starting with an abortive foundation atAbbeycwmhir in 1143. In 1164 a group of monks from Whitland foundedStrata Florida Abbey . Strata Marcella Abbey was founded from Whitland in 1170, and in 1176Cwmhir Abbey was re-founded.Whitland Abbey was originally a
Cambro-Norman foundation, but soon came under the control and patronage ofRhys ap Gruffudd , Prince ofDeheubarth . It was at Whitland that Rhys's son, Maredudd, ended his days as a monk after he had been blinded by order of KingHenry II of England when a hostage in England. It became an important cultural centre for south-west Wales and a strong supporter of the Welsh struggle to remain free of English domination.Very little now remains at the site, only the grass-covered foundations of the walls.
References
* Cowley, F.G. 1977. "The monastic order in South Wales, 1066-1349" University of Wales Press. ISBN 0-7083-0942-9
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.
