Strata Florida Abbey (Welsh: Abaty Ystrad Fflur )
A former Cistercian abbey
situated just outside Pontrhydfendigaid,
near Tregaron in the county of Ceredigion, Wales.
Visit Date April 2024
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| The West Front Gateway |
Founded in 1164 it was established by white-robed Cistercian monks also known as 'The White Canons' as part of a movement that spread across much of western Europe in the early Middle Ages.
Stata Florida was consecrated in 1201.
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| Click on any image to see enlarged version |
The area around St Davids was occupied by the Norman Marcher lordship of Pembroke by the early 12th century, with St Davids firmly under Norman influence after that, the princely Dinefwr family of Deheubarth transferred their patronage to Strata Florida, and interred many of their family members there.
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| The Nave |
Strata Florida became the most famous church in Wales after St Davids – a place of pilgrimage and a linchpin of Welsh culture.
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| Detailing on the west front |
Strata Florida was founded through the patronage of Rhys ap Gruffydd. In 1184, a further charter was issued by Lord Rhys, reaffirming Strata Florida as a monastery under the patronage of Deheubarth, a principality of South Wales.
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| The Monks Choir (North Transept in background) |
By 1238 Strata Florida had been raised to a powerful religious centre of great importance. At this time Prince Llewellyn ap Iorwerth (Llywelyn the Great 1173-1240) held council here forcing the Welsh leaders to acknowledge his son Dafydd
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| The South Transept |
Strata Florida became an important and powerful religious centre. Around 1238, Prince Llywelyn ap Iorwerth held a council at Strata Florida. It was here that he made the other Welsh leaders acknowledge his son Dafydd ap Llywelyn (1212 - 1246) as his rightful successor.
In 1401, during the early years of Owain Glyndŵr's (Prince of Wales 1400 – 1409) rebellion, the monks were evicted from the monastery by King Henry IV (King of England 1399 - 1430) as they were seen to be sympathetic to Glyndwr.
Henry then turned the Abbey into a military base.
Under the control of a commander The Earl of Worcester, the abbey held a garrison of several hundred men for the battles against the Welsh Rebels against the English crown.
At the end of the conflicts with Glyndwr, the monks were allowed to return to the abbey.
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| The Chapter House |
As part of the ongoing conflict between Henry VIII and the catholic church in 1539, the abbey was dissolved and the abbey was sold off.
The site was abandoned and allowed to fall into a ruinous state.
Much later Stephen Williams, a railway engineer and founder member of the Cambrian Archaeological Association, took interest in the Abby and began excavations of the site and in 1848 the association leased the Abbey site to create better displays and presentations to the public.
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| Click on any image to enlarge |
The present parish church of St. Mary, within the boundaries of the graveyard, may have been built with stone taken from the monastic site.
Some of the descendants of the Lord Rhys have been buried at this Abbey.
Among the buried here are 11 princes of the Welsh royal house of Dinefwr.
Notable burials include Prince Gruffydd ap Rhys II
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| The Presbytery with the plinth marking the high alter |
Because of these important burials, Strata Florida has been referred to as ‘the Westminster Abbey of Wales’.
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| Click on any image to enlarge |
The site was designated as a Scheduled Ancient Monument in 1919 and is now in the care of Cadw.
Footer:Visit Information: -
Google Reference: -
52.27541915307934, -3.839258866304253
What Three Words reference: -
///bothered.tour.computers
OS Details: -
OS Grid Ref: SN 74624 65701 : Altitude:194 m
Additional information.
Visiting is very easy with good b roads to site with Abbey Road signposted off the b4343 at
Pontrhydfendigaid. Access is currently free and the site has good information boards available.
There is a visitor centre on site but the opening times are varied. It was closed when I visited but I believe there may be a small café and toilets . Don't rely on this being open for your visit.
A full list of blogs can be found at my website
Google Reference: -
52.27541915307934, -3.839258866304253
What Three Words reference: -
///bothered.tour.computers
OS Details: -
OS Grid Ref: SN 74624 65701 : Altitude:194 m
Additional information.
Visiting is very easy with good b roads to site with Abbey Road signposted off the b4343 at
Pontrhydfendigaid. Access is currently free and the site has good information boards available.
There is a visitor centre on site but the opening times are varied. It was closed when I visited but I believe there may be a small café and toilets . Don't rely on this being open for your visit.
A full list of blogs can be found at my website