Maenan Abbey facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Maenan Abbey |
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Maenan Abbey
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| General information | |
| Location | Near Llanrwst, Conwy |
| Country | Wales |
| Coordinates | 53°10′28″N 3°48′45″W / 53.17444°N 3.81250°W |
| Completed | 1283 |
Maenan Abbey, also known as The Abbey Church of Saint Mary and All Saints, was once a special religious building for monks in Maenan, Conwy, Wales. It is located near the town of Llanrwst. Today, the site where the abbey once stood is home to the Maenan Abbey Hotel.
Contents
History of Maenan Abbey
How the Abbey Started
A group of Cistercian monks began their community in 1186. They first settled near Caernarfon at a place called Rhedynog Felen. These monks came from another abbey called Strata Florida Abbey.
Just a few years later, in 1190 or 1191, the monks moved. They went to Conwy and built a new home called Aberconwy Abbey. This was their main base for many years.
Moving to Maenan
In 1283, a big change happened for the monks. King Edward I of England decided he wanted to build a castle where Aberconwy Abbey was located. So, he ordered the monks to move again.
They moved to Maenan, which is why their new home became known as Maenan Abbey. The abbey was dedicated to Saint Mary and All Saints. This new location was chosen for them by the King.
The End of the Abbey
Maenan Abbey continued to be a religious house until around 1538. At this time, King Henry VIII decided to close many monasteries and abbeys across England and Wales. This event is known as the dissolution of the monasteries.
When Maenan Abbey was closed, its yearly income was valued at about £179. This was a lot of money back then.
What Happened to the Abbey Site?
After the abbey was closed, its land was given to a man named Elizeus Wynne in 1563. He also received the nearby area of Maenan. Wynne decided to take down many of the abbey's buildings.
He used the stones and other materials from the old abbey to build a new large house on the same site. Some of the abbey's materials were also used in building Gwydir Castle. A stone coffin believed to belong to Llywelyn the Great, a famous Welsh prince, was moved from the abbey to a chapel in Llanrwst.
Only a small arch from the original abbey remains today. People in the past described the abbey as being in a very pleasant spot with beautiful architecture.
Modern Discoveries at the Site
In 1963, people explored the grounds where the abbey once stood. More recently, in 2011, workers at the Maenan Abbey Hotel found something exciting. While working on drainage, they discovered three old medieval walls.
These walls are believed to be part of the abbey's cloister, which is a covered walkway often found in monasteries. They are about 6 feet thick and are thought to date back to 1282, just before the abbey was officially moved to Maenan. Experts from Cadw, a Welsh government body that protects historic sites, visited to look at the findings.
