TALLEY ABBEY: ABBEY OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN & ST JOHN THE BAPTIST (PREMONSTRATENSIAN)

Site Details

NPRN
92750
Map Reference
SN63SW
Grid Reference
SN6328132772
Unitary (Local) Authority
Carmarthenshire
Old County
Carmarthenshire
Community
Talley
Type of Site
ABBEY
Broad Class
Religious, Ritual and Funerary
Period
Medieval

Site Description

Half of a shattered 26m high tower and the footings of the church mark the site of the Abbey of the Blessed Virgin and St John the Baptist. The tower rises above the southern end of the Talley Lakes, clearly visible from the castle set on the isthmus between them (NPRN 303898). The Abbey was founded for Premonstrtensian or White Cannons in 1184-9. After a chequered early history the Abbey achieved a quiet prosperity before being disolved in 1536. The Abbey was initially endowed with much of the wealth of the ancient monastery of Llandeilo Fawr and derived much of its income from the cannons' spiritualities.
The abbey church was conceived as a magnificent building with an eight bay aisled nave, crossing and presbytery, however, straitened circumstances reduced the nave to a relatively modest size when the church was completed, probably in the earlier thirteenth century. The choir and presbystery were retained to serve as a parish church after 1536 and were not completely forsaken until 1772-3 when the present church of St Michael was built (NPRN 101870). The ruins are shown as partially cleared on the OS County series 2nd edition (Carmarthen. XXV.8 1906) and further clearance and consolidation followed from 1933 when the remains were taken into state care.

Source: CADW Guide to Strata Florida Abbey: Talley Abbey, revised 3rd edition (2007)

John Wiles 26.01.08