The Glamorgan-Gwent Archaeological Trust
Historic Environment Record
 

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St Mary's Priory, Abergavenny

Primary Reference Number (PRN) : 01325g
Trust : Glamorgan Gwent
Community : Abergavenny
Unitary authority : Monmouthshire
NGR : SO30131411
Site Type (preferred type first) : Medieval Priory
Status : Scheduled Monument

Summary :
Benedictine priory (of conventual status), founded 1087-1100. The only surviving part of the claustral buildings is a single 14th century wall running eastwards from the southeast corner of the south transept and now forming part of the parish centre. The associated Tithe barn, which retains inserted 18th century round windows, has been restored and converted as a part of the community centre.

Description :
The Priory Church is now used as the parish church, St Marys. The site of Priory House (converted from the monastic buildings and later demolished in 1953) has recently been redeveloped as the Priory centre. The associated Tithe barn, which retains inserted 18th century round windows, has been restored and converted as a part of the community centre (Bowden and Roberts 2012).

Benedictine priory (of conventual status), founded 1087-1100 as a daughter house of St Vincent, Le Mans, by Hamelin of Ballon, Lord of Abergavenny. Seized as an alien priory in 1294, and dissolved in 1536 when the priory church (PRN 02338g) was acquired by the townspeople as a parish church.
The only surviving part of the claustral buildings is a single wall running southwards from the southeast corner of the south transept and now forming part of the parish centre. In the 18th century this was incorporated into the mansion known as Priory House. The wing of which it formed a part was later known as the Old Chapter House, and was used as a schoolroom in the first half of the 20th century.
The surviving wall, which was recorded during the construction of the parish centre, is of 14th century date. It retains an arched opening with sandstone dressings and the remains of a cusp, possibly the remains of a three-hight window with traceried head; this is situated a short distance north of the middle of the wall. At the south end are traces of a doorway, which is thought to have given access to a slype between the west and south ranges. In spite of the traditional name, it is more likely that this wall was originally part of the dorter block. (Evans 2010)

A fabric analysis and interpretaion of the East Claustral Range conducted in 2000 recorded the existence of a slype that gave access to the cloister and confirmed the existence of a building, likely a monk's reredorter (Jones 2000).

The priory is situated on the south-eastern side of the town. When St John’s church was converted in to a free school, St Mary’s (the priory chapel) succeeded that structure as parish church. It was originally built cruciform, but the alterations it has undergone have been so great, that the regularity of form, both in the interior and exterior, have been entirely destroyed. The colossean figure of Abraham lies in the Herbert chapel, and other figures are displaced. The monuments are plastered with white lime. The carved woodwork at the eastern end of the building has, in a great part, vanished (White 1845)

Sources :
Blockley, K , 1999 , St Mary's Priory, Abergavenny - South Claustral Range, Archaeological watching brief
Bowden, R. and Roberts, R. , 2012 , Monastic Sites in Glamorgan and Gwent
Connors, O. J. , 2013 , The Effects of Anglo-Norman Lordship upon the Landscape of Post-Conquest Monmouthshire
Jones, R S , 2000 , St Mary's Priory, Abergavenny: Fabric analysis and interpretation of east claustral range
Owen Edward , 1900 , The Bells of the Priory Churches of Abergavenny and Brecon. , Archeologia Cambrensis : 55 : 294-298
Solley T.W.J. , 1979 , Romano-British Side Tables and Chip Carving , Britannia : 10 : 169-177
04/MM Desc Text/Cadw/1992/AM107
02/PM Desc Text/OWen E/1900/Arch Camb volXVIII 5th series noLXVII p294
05/PM Article/3.7.96/Abergavenny Chronicle
01/PM Record Card/OS/1957/SO 31 SW 1
ARCHAEOLOGICAL EXCAVATION HERBERT CHAPEL, ST MARY'S PRIORY
03/MM Desc Text/Cadw/Whittle E/1987/AM107
ARCHAEOLOGICAL EXCAVATION HERBERT CHAPEL, ST MARY'S PRIORY CHURCH ABERGAVENNY A208 REPORT NO. 94/060

Events :
E002129 : St Mary's Priory, Abergavenny (year : 2009-10)
E002130 : St Mary's Priory (year : 2011)
E002119 : Assessment of Monastic Sites in Glamorgan and Gwent (year : 2012)
E002235 : Saint Mary's Priory, Abergavenny, EVAL (year : 1995)
E002236 : St Mary's Priory Church, Abergavenny, EVAL (year : 1998)
E002237 : Herbert Chapel, Monmouthshire, EXCAV (year : 1996)
E002457 : St Mary's Priory, Abergavenny WB (year : 1999)
E002568 : St. Mary's Priory Abergavenny, East Claustral Range SUR (year : 2000)
E002636 : Abergavenny, Desktop Historic Landscape Study (year : 1998)

Related records
GGAT Historic Environment Record (HER) 4877G
GGAT Historic Environment Record (HER) 02338g

Compiled date : 12-03-2004


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