Scheduled MonumentsWalesCwmhir Abbey
Medieval · Abbey

Cwmhir Abbey

Radnorshire, Wales
Cadw SAM RD012
Period
Medieval
Site type
Abbey
Broad class
Religious, Ritual and Funerary
Nation
Wales
Boundary

Scheduled area

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Overview

History & significance

Cwmhir Abbey is a Cistercian monastery founded in the early twelfth century in the remote valley of Cwm Hir in Radnorshire, Wales. The abbey was established as a daughter house of Abbey Dore in Herefordshire and became one of the largest Cistercian churches in Wales, with a notably extended nave designed to rival the great abbeys of England. The surviving ruins, primarily of stone, include substantial remains of the church and other monastic buildings that attest to the abbey's considerable resources and architectural ambition during the medieval period. Following the Dissolution of the Monasteries in the sixteenth century, the site fell into decay, though its extensive footprint and remaining masonry preserve evidence of its former prominence as a centre of religious and economic life in the Welsh borderlands.

Cwmhir Abbey is a scheduled monument protected by Cadw under reference RD012. View the official record →

About this monument

Questions & answers

What is Cwmhir Abbey?

Cwmhir Abbey is a Cistercian monastery founded in the early twelfth century in the remote valley of Cwm Hir in Radnorshire, Wales. It is designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument by Cadw under reference RD012.

What period does Cwmhir Abbey date from?

Cwmhir Abbey dates from the medieval period, and is classified as a abbey. It is one of over 32,000 scheduled monuments protected across the UK.

Who is responsible for protecting Cwmhir Abbey?

Cwmhir Abbey is a Scheduled Ancient Monument, legally protected by Cadw — the body responsible for designating and safeguarding heritage sites in Wales. The official designation reference is RD012.

What other scheduled monuments are near Cwmhir Abbey?

Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including Llyn Dwr Standing Stone (1.7 km), Llyn Dwr Cairn (1.7 km), Tomen Bedd Ugre Mound & Bailey Castle (4.7 km).

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