Strata Marcella
Encyclopedia
The Abbey of Strata Marcella , was a medieval Cistercian monastery
situated at Ystrad Marchell (Strata Marcella being the Latin
ised form of the Welsh name) on the west bank of the River Severn
near Welshpool
, Powys
, Wales
.
Prince of Powys, as a daughter house of the Abbey at Whitland
. Within two years the Abbey had moved a short distance to the present site but excavations have found no evidence of any early structures before construction in stone started in 1190 so it is likely the earliest building were simple wooden structures. Building work continued until the early 13th century by which time Strata Marcella had become the largest Cistercian Abbey in Wales. Its nave
was 200 feet long. It was monks from Strata Marcella who went to the Vale of Llangollen
in 1200 to found the Abbey of Valle Crucis
.
-founded abbeys in England
. As such they tended to support the Welsh Princes in their struggles against King Edward I of England
and the Marcher Lords and because of this the abbey suffered much damage during the Welsh wars of independence. The abbot and monks were deemed to be working against English rule in Wales and in 1332, the local lord, John de Cherleton, ordered the eviction of all the Welsh monks and replaced them with English monks from Buildwas Abbey
, Shropshire
.
rising at the beginning of the 15th century the buildings were heavily damaged and the monastery never completely recovered.
in England and Wales. At that time there were only four monks at the abbey and the local lord, Lord Powis, had already purchased the site and had removed everything of value. The stone from the buildings was sold and used to build several local churches. Today the only visible remains are earthworks covering the remains of the church and cloister
in a meadow beside the River Severn
.
Monastery
Monastery denotes the building, or complex of buildings, that houses a room reserved for prayer as well as the domestic quarters and workplace of monastics, whether monks or nuns, and whether living in community or alone .Monasteries may vary greatly in size – a small dwelling accommodating only...
situated at Ystrad Marchell (Strata Marcella being the Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
ised form of the Welsh name) on the west bank of the River Severn
River Severn
The River Severn is the longest river in Great Britain, at about , but the second longest on the British Isles, behind the River Shannon. It rises at an altitude of on Plynlimon, Ceredigion near Llanidloes, Powys, in the Cambrian Mountains of mid Wales...
near Welshpool
Welshpool
Welshpool is a town in Powys, Wales, or ancient county Montgomeryshire, from the Wales-England border. The town is low-lying on the River Severn; the Welsh language name Y Trallwng literally meaning 'the marshy or sinking land'...
, Powys
Powys
Powys is a local-government county and preserved county in Wales.-Geography:Powys covers the historic counties of Montgomeryshire and Radnorshire, most of Brecknockshire , and a small part of Denbighshire — an area of 5,179 km², making it the largest county in Wales by land area.It is...
, Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
.
Founding
It was founded in 1170, by Owain CyfeiliogOwain Cyfeiliog
Owain ap Gruffydd was a prince of the southern part of Powys and a poet. He is usually known as Owain Cyfeiliog to distinguish him from other rulers named Owain, particularly his contemporary, Owain ap Gruffydd of Gwynedd, who is known as Owain Gwynedd.Owain was the son of Gruffydd ap Maredudd and...
Prince of Powys, as a daughter house of the Abbey at Whitland
Whitland
Whitland is a small town in Carmarthenshire, south-west Wales, lying on the River Tâf. Whitland is home to the elusive "Whitland Trout" noted for its eggs and oily scales.- History :...
. Within two years the Abbey had moved a short distance to the present site but excavations have found no evidence of any early structures before construction in stone started in 1190 so it is likely the earliest building were simple wooden structures. Building work continued until the early 13th century by which time Strata Marcella had become the largest Cistercian Abbey in Wales. Its nave
Nave
In Romanesque and Gothic Christian abbey, cathedral basilica and church architecture, the nave is the central approach to the high altar, the main body of the church. "Nave" was probably suggested by the keel shape of its vaulting...
was 200 feet long. It was monks from Strata Marcella who went to the Vale of Llangollen
Llangollen
Llangollen is a small town and community in Denbighshire, north-east Wales, situated on the River Dee and on the edge of the Berwyn mountains. It has a population of 3,412.-History:...
in 1200 to found the Abbey of Valle Crucis
Valle Crucis
-Places:United Kingdom*Valle Crucis Abbey, WalesUnited States*Valle Crucis, North Carolina, an unincorporated community*Valle Crucis Episcopal Mission, North Carolina...
.
Welsh Independence
Strata Marcella was one of a number of Cistercian Abbeys founded by Welsh Princes which operated independently from the NormanNormans
The Normans were the people who gave their name to Normandy, a region in northern France. They were descended from Norse Viking conquerors of the territory and the native population of Frankish and Gallo-Roman stock...
-founded abbeys in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. As such they tended to support the Welsh Princes in their struggles against King Edward I of England
Edward I of England
Edward I , also known as Edward Longshanks and the Hammer of the Scots, was King of England from 1272 to 1307. The first son of Henry III, Edward was involved early in the political intrigues of his father's reign, which included an outright rebellion by the English barons...
and the Marcher Lords and because of this the abbey suffered much damage during the Welsh wars of independence. The abbot and monks were deemed to be working against English rule in Wales and in 1332, the local lord, John de Cherleton, ordered the eviction of all the Welsh monks and replaced them with English monks from Buildwas Abbey
Buildwas Abbey
Buildwas Abbey is located along the banks of the River Severn in Buildwas, Shropshire, England, about two miles west of Ironbridge.-Early history:...
, Shropshire
Shropshire
Shropshire is a county in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes, the county is a NUTS 3 region and is one of four counties or unitary districts that comprise the "Shropshire and Staffordshire" NUTS 2 region. It borders Wales to the west...
.
Owain Glyndŵr
During the Owain GlyndŵrOwain Glyndwr
Owain Glyndŵr , or Owain Glyn Dŵr, anglicised by William Shakespeare as Owen Glendower , was a Welsh ruler and the last native Welshman to hold the title Prince of Wales...
rising at the beginning of the 15th century the buildings were heavily damaged and the monastery never completely recovered.
The Dissolution
The abbey was finally dissolved in 1536 at the dissolution of the monasteriesDissolution of the Monasteries
The Dissolution of the Monasteries, sometimes referred to as the Suppression of the Monasteries, was the set of administrative and legal processes between 1536 and 1541 by which Henry VIII disbanded monasteries, priories, convents and friaries in England, Wales and Ireland; appropriated their...
in England and Wales. At that time there were only four monks at the abbey and the local lord, Lord Powis, had already purchased the site and had removed everything of value. The stone from the buildings was sold and used to build several local churches. Today the only visible remains are earthworks covering the remains of the church and cloister
Cloister
A cloister is a rectangular open space surrounded by covered walks or open galleries, with open arcades on the inner side, running along the walls of buildings and forming a quadrangle or garth...
in a meadow beside the River Severn
River Severn
The River Severn is the longest river in Great Britain, at about , but the second longest on the British Isles, behind the River Shannon. It rises at an altitude of on Plynlimon, Ceredigion near Llanidloes, Powys, in the Cambrian Mountains of mid Wales...
.