The Glamorgan-Gwent Archaeological Trust
Historic Environment Record
 

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Tintern Abbey Claustral Buildings

Primary Reference Number (PRN) : 09604g
Trust : Glamorgan Gwent
Community : Tintern
Unitary authority : Monmouthshire
NGR : SO5332000030
Site Type (preferred type first) : MEDIEVAL ABBEY
Status : listed building I

Summary :
The claustral buildings at Tintern Abbey lay to the north of the church. Accommodation for the choir monks was was provided in the nortn range, and that for the lay brothers in the northern part of the west range. The southern part of the west range includes the entrance into the claustral buildings from the outer precinct. In the east range, very little of the chapter house survives. The infirmary buildings lay to the east of the east range.
The abbot's lodging was enlarged in the 14th century in the northeast corner of the site.


Description :
Unusually, the cloister at Tintern Abbey lay to the north of the church, to allow for drainage directly into the River Wye.

Although a little of the 12th century fabric survives in the monks' dortor block, the buildings around the cloister were largely rebuilt in the early 13th century, with some additions in the late 13th century and the 14th century. They were laid out in the usual Cistercian manner, with accommodation for the lay brothers provided in the northern part of the west range separately from the choir monks who were housed in the north range, with the kitchen in the corner between the two ranges. The lay brothers' dormitory lay over their refectory at the norther end of the west range. The southern part of the west range includes the entrance into the claustral buildings from the outer precinct, through a later 13th century porch. The monks' refectory lay end-on in the middle of the rnage with the warming house beside it, an dthe dortor block in the corner with the east range. In the east range was the parlour, chapter house, book room and sacristry; very little of the chapter house survives.

The infirmary buildings lay to the east of the east range, with the infirmary cloister in the intervening space. The infirmary as it survives is largely a creation of the later 13th century, although internal walls were added in the late 15th century to turn it into a series of individual rooms.

The abbot's lodging lies in the northeast corner of the site. Part of its early 13th century fabric survives, although it was considerably enlarged in the 14th century.


Sources :
Newman, J , 2000 , The buildings of Wales: Gwent/Monmouthshire
Robinson, D M , 1986 , Tintern Abbey
Robinson, D. M. , 2006 , The Cistercians in Wales: Architecture and Archaeology 1130-1540

Events :

Related records
GGAT Historic Environment Record (HER) 00713g
GGAT Historic Environment Record (HER) 0019g

Compiled date : 08-06-2012


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