St Dogmael's Abbey, Cardigan, South Wales

Skirted by fields and modern housing, the remains of this Norman monastic foundation still sit peacefully on the banks of the River Teifi. Taking its name from a sixth century saint, St Dogmael's Abbey was originally founded as a priory by Robert fitz Martin when he bought a small community of monks to Wales from Tiron in northern France.

By 1120 there were at least two dozen French monks from the mother house, and Robert was permitted to raise the status of the foundation to an abbey. St Dogmael's Abbey remained under Tironian rule until its dissolution in 1536, unlike the half dozen or so originally established in Scotland who later formed an independent Order. Life for the early monks must have been quite difficult. Not only had they to contend with settling in a new land and building their monastery, but they also experienced many turbulent periods of war. Although the abbey church was not completed until midway through the thirteenth century, much of the domestic accommodation must have been built during the first eighty years. In 1188, Gerald of Wales and the Archbishop of Canterbury enjoyed the hospitality of Prince Rhys whilst staying overnight at St Dogmael's Abbey.

As the abbey enjoyed more prosperous times after completion of the church, some reconstruction work was carried out on earlier parts of the building probably damaged during the wars. Wealth soon turned to poverty and, by 1317, St Dogmael's Abbey had serious financial problems. To add to the problems, the monastery was struck by the plague in the middle of the 14th century and by the close of the century only four monks were living there. The situation had improved slightly by 1504, with the abbey being well-maintained, essential repairs undertaken, and an increase in the number of monks. When St Dogmael's Abbey was dissolved, just eight monks and the abbot were residing at the monastery so it never fully recovered.

With the exception of the infirmary, the north transept and the north nave wall of the abbey church, little has survived above foundation level. But the fragments still standing contain some interesting detail, and help the visitor to understand the layout of the monastery. The steeply sloping site may explain why the church was constructed without the usual west doorway as an entrance, and also why there were no windows in the north wall of the nave. There are large areas along the length of the nave where 15th century floor tiles remain in situ. The nave was adapted for use as the parish church until a new one was erected in the early 18th century. The south and west ranges are more difficult to interpret due to later conversions of the buildings following the sale of St Dogmael's Abbey in 1543. By the 17th century the site had become ruinous, and nothing exists of the post-dissolution mansion built by Bradshaw.