Llantarnam Abbey was founded in 1179 by the
Welsh lord of Caerleon, Hywel ab Ioerwerth (d. 1211), and was
colonised
by monks from Strata Florida. In its earlier years the abbey was
known by a variety of names including Nant-Teyrnan, Dewma and
Caerleon.
In 1273 the General Chapter decreed that Llantarnam was to be the
official name although Caerleon continued in use until the later
Middles Ages.(1)
Llantarnam
not only received gifts from its founder but also benefited from
the patronage of the native Welsh in the
upland areas of eastern Glamorgan. It was recorded that during
the late twelfth century the house had a community of sixty monks,
although
the numbers had dropped to twenty by 1317.(2) This
was probably a result of the damaging effects of the revolt of
Llywelyn Bren
which took
place in 1316.(3) At the time
of Dissolution there were only six monks and a net annual income
of £71.(4) The abbey was
suppressed in 1536 with the smaller monasteries and the site was
bought
in 1554
by William Morgan, who built a house over part of the claustral
complex. The layout of the Norgan's house probably reflects some
of the layout
of the cloister ranges and may incorporate medieval fabric.(5) The
house was substantially rebuilt during 1834-5 and in 1946 the
property
was acquired by the sisters of St. Joseph, who continue to reside
there today.(6) The surviving
literary works from Llantarnam abbey
include St. Gregory’s ‘Homilies’ and a late copy
of a set of Chester annals.(7)
