Margam Abbey was a
Cistercian monastery, located in the
village of
Margam, a
suburb of modern
Port Talbot in
Wales.
History
Margam Abbey
The
abbey was founded in 1147 as a daughter house of
Clairvaux by
Robert, Earl of Gloucester and was dedicated to
the Blessed Virgin Mary. The
abbey was
dissolved by King
Henry VIII of England in 1536 and sold to
Sir Rice Mansel. At this time, only 12
monks were living in the monastery.
From the Mansel family the abbey eventually passed into their descendants in the female line, the Talbot family. In the 19th century, C R M Talbot constructed a mansion at
Margam Castle which overlooks the abbey ruins. The nave of the abbey continued in use as the
parish church, as it does to this day.
Today
Margam Abbey now consists of the intact nave and impressive surrounding ruins. Those ruins not belonging to the church are now owned by the County Council. These remains, including the unusually large twelve-sided
chapter house, dating from the 13th century, stand within 840 acre (3.4 km²)
Margam Country Park, close to
Margam Castle.
On a hill overlooking the abbey stand the ruins of an outlying monastery building, Capel Mair ar y Bryn ("the chapel of St Mary on the hill"). The purpose of this building is thought to have been to allow members of the monastic community who were engaged in the keeping of flocks to fulfil their devotional obligations without having to return to the main church.
Two different types of monks lived there and were bith equally important in the success of Margam Abbey, first there was the cistercain monks, these where the more educated ones they proved this by writing a book and secondly there where the Lay monks which made the abbey rich by trading in the local area and abroad. They were native Welsh monks and farmers; they traded sheep and the things they farmed.
Photos
- Abbey Ruins and Chapel:,,,
Category:Cistercian monasteries in WalesCategory:Ruins in WalesCategory:Buildings and structures in Neath Port TalbotCategory:1147 establishmentsCategory:Religious organizations established in the 1140sCategory:Christian monasteries established in the 12th centurycy:Abaty Margamde:Margam Abbey
