# Basingwerk Abbey

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Ruin of an abbey near Holywell, Flintshire, Wales

Basingwerk Abbey Abaty Dinas Basing Remains of Basingwerk Abbey Religion Affiliation Catholicism, Cistercians Ecclesiastical or organizational status ruins Year consecrated 1132 Location Location Holywell, Flintshire, Wales Interactive map of Basingwerk Abbey Architecture Type Monastery Style Cistercian

**Basingwerk Abbey** ([Welsh](/source/Welsh_language): *Abaty Dinas Basing*) is a [Grade I listed](/source/Grade_I_listed_buildings_in_Flintshire) ruined [abbey](/source/Abbey) near [Holywell](/source/Holywell%2C_Flintshire), [Flintshire](/source/Flintshire), [Wales](/source/Wales). The abbey, which was founded in the 12th century, belonged to the [Order of Cistercians](/source/Cistercian). It maintained significant lands in the English county of [Derbyshire](/source/Derbyshire). The abbey was abandoned and its assets sold following the [Dissolution of the Monasteries](/source/Dissolution_of_the_Monasteries) in 1536.

The site is now managed by [Cadw](/source/Cadw) – the national Welsh heritage agency.

## Medieval history

Basingwerk Abbey (1845) from the southwest

Basingwerk Abbey. A miniature by [Moses Griffiths](/source/Moses_Griffiths), c.1778

The abbey was founded in 1132 by [Ranulf de Gernon, 4th Earl of Chester](/source/Ranulf_de_Gernon%2C_4th_Earl_of_Chester),[1] who had already brought [Benedictine](/source/Benedictine) monks from [Savigny Abbey](/source/Savigny_Abbey) in southern [Normandy](/source/Normandy). Likely the first location of the abbey was not at the current location at Greenfields but at the nearby Hen Blas.[2] The abbey became part of the [Cistercian](/source/Cistercian) Order in 1147, when the [Savignac Order](/source/Congregation_of_Savigny) merged with the Cistercians. It was a daughter house of [Combermere Abbey](/source/Combermere_Abbey) in Cheshire,[3] of which Earl Ranulf was a great benefactor. However, in 1147 the abbot and convent of Savigny transferred it to [Buildwas Abbey](/source/Buildwas_Abbey) in [Shropshire](/source/Shropshire).[4]: 52 Twenty years later, the monks of Basingwerk challenged their subjection to Buildwas, but Savigny found against them and sent a letter notifying their decision to the abbot of [Cîteaux](/source/C%C3%AEteaux_Abbey), the head of the Cistercian order.[4]: 54 An [Earl of Chester](/source/Earl_of_Chester) gave the manor of [West Kirby](/source/West_Kirby) to the Abbey.

In 1157, [Owain Gwynedd](/source/Owain_Gwynedd) encamped his army at Basingwerk, though at the Hen Blas site not at the current site,[5] before facing the forces of [Henry II](/source/Henry_II_of_England) at the [Battle of Ewloe](/source/Battle_of_Ewloe). The [Welsh Prince](/source/Kingdom_of_Gwynedd) stopped at the abbey because of its strategic importance. It blocked the route Henry II had to take to reach [Twthill, Rhuddlan](/source/Twthill%2C_Rhuddlan). In the fighting that followed, Owain Gwynedd split his army routing the English near [Ewloe](/source/Ewloe).

The abbey had significant lands in the English county of [Derbyshire](/source/Derbyshire). [Henry II](/source/Henry_II_of_England) gave the monks a manor near [Glossop](/source/Glossop). The Monks' Road and the [Abbot's Chair](/source/Abbot's_Chair) near the town are a reminder of the Abbey's efforts to administer their possession. In 1290 the Abbey gained a [market charter](/source/Market_town) for Glossop.[6] The monks also got another charter for nearby [Charlesworth](/source/Charlesworth%2C_Derbyshire) in 1328.

By the 13th century, the abbey was under the patronage of [Llywelyn the Great](/source/Llywelyn_the_Great), Prince of [Gwynedd](/source/Kingdom_of_Gwynedd). His son [Dafydd ap Llywelyn](/source/Dafydd_ap_Llywelyn) gave [St Winefride's Well](/source/St_Winefride's_Well) to the abbey. The monks harnessed the power of the Holywell stream to run a corn mill and to treat the wool from their sheep. The monks sided with the English in [Edward I](/source/Edward_I_of_England)'s late 13th century [conquest of Wales](/source/Conquest_of_Wales_by_Edward_I), for which they were rewarded with permission to hold a market and fair at Holywell.[7] In 1433, the monks leased all of [Glossopdale](/source/Glossopdale) in Derbyshire to the Talbot family, the future [Earls of Shrewsbury](/source/Earl_of_Shrewsbury) (1442). The increasing worldliness of the abbey by this time can be seen in the rebuilding of the domestic buildings to make them more comfortable, and in the abbot's patronage of bards like [Tudor Aled](/source/Tudur_Aled).[8] There was also some laxity in the religious observance - the last abbot, Nicholas Pennant, was the son of his predecessor Thomas.[7]

A legend says a 12th-century Basingwerk Abbey monk was lured into a nearby wood by the singing of a [nightingale](/source/Nightingale). He thought he had only been listening a short while, but when he returned, the abbey was in ruins. He crumbled to dust shortly afterwards.[9]

At the [Valor Ecclestiasticus](/source/Valor_Ecclesiasticus) survey of 1535, Basingwerk was assessed at £150, putting it among the smaller houses that were earmarked for closure. By this time the number of monks had probably dwindled to two or three.[8] In 1536, abbey life came to an end with the [Dissolution of the Monasteries](/source/Dissolution_of_the_Monasteries) during the reign of [Henry VIII](/source/Henry_VIII_of_England). Its dissolution was made lawful by the [Dissolution of the Lesser Monasteries Act](/source/Dissolution_of_the_Lesser_Monasteries_Act) and the lands of the abbey were granted to lay owners, with the site itself passing to Henry ap Harry of [Llanasa](/source/Llanasa). The abbot received a pension of £17 per annum.

Two centuries earlier a Welsh seer, *Robin Ddu* ("Robin the Dark"), said the roof on the refectory would go to a church under [Moel Famau](/source/Moel_Famau). It did: when the abbey was sold, the parts of the roof went to [St Mary's Church](/source/St_Mary's_Church%2C_Cilcain) in [Cilcain](/source/Cilcain) below the slopes of Moel Famau. Another section of roof was reportedly given to the [Collegiate and Parochial Church of St Peter](/source/Collegiate_and_Parochial_Church_of_St_Peter%2C_Ruthin) at [Ruthin](/source/Ruthin), where it still covers the North Nave. Its [Jesse window](/source/Jesse_window) went to the Church of St Dyfnog at [Llanrhaeadr-yng-Nghinmeirch](/source/Llanrhaeadr-yng-Nghinmeirch). The choir stalls went to [St Mary on the Hill, Chester](/source/St_Mary's_Creative_Space), and some of the roofing lead was used to repair [Holt Castle](/source/Holt_Castle), as well as several royal castles in Ireland.[8][7]

## Present day

Since 1923, the remains of the abbey have been in state care. The ruins are part of [Greenfield Valley Heritage Park](/source/Greenfield_Valley_Heritage_Park), and are managed by [Cadw](/source/Cadw). In common with most medieval monasteries, the abbey buildings were centred on a large church, with the domestic buildings of the monks in three ranges surrounding a [cloister](/source/Cloister) to its south. The majority of the buildings, including the church, were erected in the 13th century.[7] The 50m long cruciform church has been reduced to foundations and low walls except for the south transept, where the west walls still stands high with one high window and the arch that led to the south aisle.[7] Of the buildings round the cloister more remains, as they were converted to a house after the Dissolution. Immediately south of the church is the [sacristy](/source/Sacristy), then the [chapter house](/source/Chapter_house). This is a 12th century room, to which a vaulted eastern section was added, divided by an arcade of two round arches which still stands. Around the walls is the bench on which the monks sat for chapter meetings. To the south is the dormitory undercroft, and to the south of that a warming room was added in the mid-13th century.[7] This end of the range was heavily rebuilt in the later middle ages, with the vault being removed and a new hall and chamber built.[10] Over this range stood the monks' dormitory, of which part of the side walls still stand, with [lancet windows](/source/Lancet_window). Extending east from the south end of this range is another range of uncertain date, possibly incorporating the infirmary or abbot's house.[11] In the south range are the staircase up to the dormitory, and the [refectory](/source/Refectory). In the normal Cistercian manner, this is aligned north-south, perpendicular to the body of the range. It was a high-quality chamber, and elaborate lancets with [Early English](/source/English_Gothic_architecture) shafting survive in the west wall, along with the reader's pulpit and the hatch to the kitchen.[8] Of the kitchen, and the entire west range, virtually nothing survives. The latter was separated from the cloister proper by a 'lane', as can be better seen at the Cistercian houses of [Buildwas](/source/Buildwas_Abbey) and [Byland](/source/Byland_Abbey).

The abbey marks the starting point of the [North Wales Pilgrims Way](/source/North_Wales_Pilgrims_Way).[12]

## See also

- [List of monastic houses in Wales](/source/List_of_monastic_houses_in_Wales)

- [List of Cadw properties](/source/List_of_Cadw_properties)

- *[The Form of Preaching](/source/The_Form_of_Preaching)*, a 14th-century style book or manual about a preaching style

- [Holywell Junction railway station](/source/Holywell_Junction_railway_station)

## Footnotes

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** Ivanov, Bojan (4 May 2018). ["The ruins of Basingwerk Abbey, Wales: artistic and economic center for over 400 years"](https://www.abandonedspaces.com/public/basingwerk-abbey.html). *Abandoned Spaces*. Retrieved 5 February 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** Ross, David (n.d.). ["Basingwerk Abbey"](https://www.britainexpress.com/attractions.htm?attraction=355). *Britain Express*. Retrieved 28 July 2022.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** Martene, Edmundi; Ursini, Durand (1717). [*Thesaurus Novus Anecdotorum*](https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_uN9npfGESQ8C/page/n296,) (in Latin). Sumptibus F. Delaulne Hilarii Foucault. Column 433.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-hunter_4-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-hunter_4-1) Hunter, Joseph, ed. (1840). ["Documents relating to the subjection of the Houses of St. Mary of Dublin, and of Basingwerk, to the House of Buildwas. A. D. 1156–1176."](https://archive.org/details/ecclesiasticaldoc00camduoft/page/52). *Ecclesiastical Documents* (in Latin). London: The Camden Society. Part II, Chapter 3.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** ["Basingwerk Abbey"](https://www.mythslegendsodditiesnorth-east-wales.co.uk/basingwerk-abbey). *Curious Clwyd*. n.d. Retrieved 28 July 2022.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** ["The Domesday Book Online – Derbyshire F-R"](http://www.domesdaybook.co.uk/derbyshire2.html). *www.domesdaybook.co.uk*. Retrieved 9 June 2017.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:0_7-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:0_7-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-:0_7-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-:0_7-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-:0_7-4) [***f***](#cite_ref-:0_7-5) Salter, Mike (2012). *Abbeys, Priories and Cathedrals of Wales*. Malvern: Folly. pp. 26–27.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:1_8-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:1_8-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-:1_8-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-:1_8-3) Robinson, David (1998). *The Cistercian Abbeys of Britain*. London: Batsford. pp. 66–67.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** Ash, Russell (1973). *Folklore, Myths and Legends of Britain*. Reader's Digest Association Limited. p. 386. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [9780340165973](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/9780340165973).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** Emery, Anthony (2000). *Greater Medieval Houses of England and Wales, 1300-1500*. Vol. 2. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** Thorold, Henry (1993). *Collins Guide to the Ruined Abbeys of England, Wales and Scotland*. London: HarperCollins. p. 216.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** ["Taith Pererin Gogledd Cymru ~ North Wales Pilgrim's Way"](http://www.pilgrims-way-north-wales.org/index.html). *www.pilgrims-way-north-wales.org*. Retrieved 9 June 2017.

## Further reading

- Hubbard, Edward (1994). *Buildings of Wales: Clwyd* (2nd ed.). London: Penguin Books. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-14-071052-3](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-14-071052-3). (1st ed. 1986)

## External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to [Basingwerk Abbey](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Basingwerk_Abbey).

- [Basingwerk Abbey in old books](https://web.archive.org/web/20060628032603/http://www.fromoldbooks.org/HistoryOfWales/pages/43-Basingwerk-Abbey/)

- [geograph.co.uk: photos of Basingwerk Abbey and surrounding area today](https://www.geograph.org.uk/search.php?i=3163577)

[53°17′17″N 3°12′29″W / 53.288°N 3.208°W / 53.288; -3.208](https://geohack.toolforge.org/geohack.php?pagename=Basingwerk_Abbey&params=53.288_N_3.208_W_source:dewiki_region:GB-FLN_type:landmark_scale:5000)

v t e Flintshire Principal settlements Bagillt Buckley Caerwys Deeside (Connah's Quay Queensferry Saltney Shotton) Flint Holywell Mold Towns and villages Abermorddu Afonwen Alltami Aston Park Bretton Broughton Bryn-y-Baal Brynford Cadole Caergwrle Calcoed Carmel Cefn-y-Bedd Cilcain Coed Talon Cymau Drury Ewloe Ffrith Flint Mountain Ffynnongroew Greenfield Gronant Gwaenysgor Gwernaffield Gwernymynydd Halkyn Hawarden Holway Higher Kinnerton Hope Leeswood Llanfynydd Llanasa Leadmill Mancot Mostyn Mynydd Isa Nannerch Nercwys Northop Northop Hall Oakenholt Pantasaph Pantymwyn Pentre Halkyn Penyffordd (Buckley) Pen-y-Ffordd (Holywell) Penymynydd Pontblyddyn Rhosesmor Rhes-y-Cae Rhydymwyn Sandycroft Sealand Soughton/Sychdyn Saltney Ferry Talacre Trelawnyd Trelogan Treuddyn Whitford Ysceifiog Geography Alyn Gorge Bretton Bridge Caerwys Rectory Clwydian Range Clwydian Range and Dee Valley AONB Dee Estuary Flintshire Bridge The Gop Greenfield Valley Heritage Park Moel Famau Moel y Gaer Moel y Parc Mostyn Colliery Nant-y-Ffrith Ogof Nadolig Point of Ayr Point of Ayr Gas Terminal River Alyn River Cegidog River Dee River Terrig Talacre Beach Wepre Park Parliamentary representation List of parliamentary constituencies in Clwyd Flintshire East Flintshire West Flintshire Community councils Argoed Bagillt Broughton and Bretton Brynford Buckley Caerwys Cilcain Connah's Quay Flint Gwernaffield with Pantymwyn Gwernymynydd Halkyn Hawarden Higher Kinnerton Holywell Hope Leeswood and Pontblyddyn Llanasa Llanfynydd Mold Mostyn Nannerch Nercwys Northop Northop Hall Penyffordd Queensferry Saltney Sealand Shotton Trelawnyd and Gwaenysgor Treuddyn Whitford Ysceifiog Topics The historic county Alyn and Deeside Broughton Shopping Park Delyn Flintshire County Council Holywell Rural District Flintshire Detached (historically) Maelor Rural District Mold cape Point of Ayr Colliery Company Prestatyn Coal Company RAF Sealand Borough of Rhuddlan Western Mostyn Colliery Company SSSIs Country houses Lord Lieutenants High Sheriffs Museums Schools History Listed buildings Grade I Grade II* Listed parks and gardens Notable people Sport Visitor attractions Public art

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Basingwerk Abbey](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basingwerk_Abbey) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basingwerk_Abbey?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.