The Glamorgan-Gwent Archaeological Trust
Historic Environment Record
 

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Basseleg Priory/Grange

Primary Reference Number (PRN) : 00046g
Trust : Glamorgan Gwent
Community : Graig
Unitary authority : Newport
NGR : ST27748712
Site Type (preferred type first) : Medieval Priory

Summary :
A monastic cell, founded 1116, dissolved 1235, dependant on Glastonbury. This house was left to farm before 1235.

Description :
An ancient clas site, Bassaleg was transferred by Robert de la Haie to the Benedictines at Glastonbury, between 1100 and 1105, along with its dependencies Machen, Bedwas, Mynyddislwyn and Manmoel, and its Chapels, Coedkernew and Pulcrud; Williams dates the endowment more precisely to 1104, and notes the site probably lay on the River Ebbw, though an alternative site at Mynachdy on the Rhymni had also been suggested. By 1240 the monks were recalled from Bassaleg, and the site was leased, along with its lands and appropriated churches to the Bishop of Llandaff; later the churches and tithes of Bassaleg passed to the Cistercians of Llantarnam (Crouch 2008, 20; Williams 2008, 189).
The area representing the probable site of the former monastic cell, known as Bassaleg Priory, as mapped from 1st ed OS, takes in the current extent of the churchyard and associated buildings, church and lych gate, both surviving, and the sites of several buildings depicted on the 1st edition OS map, no longer extant: a complex of three buildings to the N of the priory church, and a linear structure/building with six adjacent internal compartments/bays, located at the S edge of the church yard. It should be noted the exact site of the priory has not been further established by field visit (E002120) (Bowden and Roberts 2012).

A monastic cell, founded 1116, dissolved 1235, dependant on Glastonbury. This house was left to farm before 1235. OS card ST 25 NE 7 marks the site of the parish church (PRN 45g) as the probable site of the monastery, but there is an alternative at Mynachty (PRN 00046g)..
Evans 2003: GGAT 73 Early-Medieval Ecclesiastical Sites Project database

NMR description
"Built in the Gothic style, long-wall entry type. A prominent feature of this Church is the integral tower. Present status [2002] : unknown

St Basil's Church - perpendicular style part rebuilt, modern additions: Probable site of Bassaleg priory, founded 1116, dissolved ca.1235 (RCAHMW 1982).

During the digging of a drainage trench in 1997 two rainwater pipes, of an uncertain date, were uncovered packed with roof slates and slag (Taylor 1997).

Sources :
Bowden, R. and Roberts, R. , 2012 , Monastic Sites in Glamorgan and Gwent
Crouch, D. , 2008 , The transformation of Medieval Gwent
Evans, E M , 2003 , Early Medieval Ecclesiastical sites in Southeast Wales: Desk based assessment
RCAHMW , 1982 , Glamorgan: Medieval Non-defensive Secular Monuments
Taylor, F , 1997 , Watching Brief at St. Basil the Great, Bassaleg, Newport.
Williams, D. H. , 2008 , The Religious Orders
08/PM Desc Text//Pickford/JAF/1946/Mountain & Marsh/pp49-60
07/PH Desc Text////1859/Arch Camb/3rd ser.Vol 15
02/PM Desc Text//Knowles & Hadcock/1953/Med relig houses/pp58&356
03/PM Desc Text//Lloyd/JE/1954/Hist of Wales/Vol1.p270
04/PM Map//Rees/W/1951/Hist.Atlas of Wales/p24.pl27
06/PH Desc Text//Coxe/W/1801/Hist Tour in Mon/pp58-9
01/MM Record Card/OS///1957/ST 28 NE 7/
05/PM Desc Text//Evans/CJO/1954/Mon Hist & Topog/pp.222-4
Evans EM, 2003-04, GGAT 73 Early Medieval Ecclesiastical Sites Project

Events :
E001386 : Early medieval ecclesiastical sites in Southeast Wales desk based assessment (year : 2003)
E002120 : Bassaleg Priory (year : 2011)
E002119 : Assessment of Monastic Sites in Glamorgan and Gwent (year : 2012)
E004396 : St. Basil the Great, Bassaleg (year : 1997)
E008229 : Bassaleg School, Newport (year : 2019)

Related records
GGAT Historic Environment Record (HER) 00624g
GGAT Historic Environment Record (HER) 00045g
GGAT Historic Environment Record (HER) 00026g

Compiled date : 12-03-2004


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