Cof Cymru: National Historic Assets of Wales · Wales
Basingwerk Abbey
Holywell, Flintshire, Wales
The record
- Designation
- Listed building, Grade I
- Broad class
- Religious, Ritual and Funerary
- Date of designation
- 19 August 1991
- Locality
- Greenfield
- Community
- Holywell
- Unitary authority
- Flintshire
- Country
- Wales
- Coordinates
- 53.28802, -3.20735
- Cadw reference
- 505
Slide toward Today to fade the historical sheet and see the modern map underneath.
David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesLlyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru – The National Library of WalesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries
Shown on 5 historical map sheets, the earliest the 1795 "To Sir Watkin Williams-Wynn Bart ... the map of the six counties of North Wales is most humbly inscribed by his obedient humble servant" (Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru – The National Library of Wales).
Cadw's description
Location
Near the N end of the Greenfield Valley.
History
The Abbey was founded in 1131 as a Savignac house and moved to this site before 1157 when it became affiliated to the Cistercian Abbey of Buildwas. The plan form is typical of Cistercian houses. It was dissolved in 1536 and then owned by the Mostyns of Talacre; fell into disuse by C18 since when much of the fabric has been removed.
Exterior
Early C13 church with 7-bay aisled nave, transepts with paired eastern chapels and a square-ended, aisles, presbytery. S transept W wall and crossing pier form the tallest remains of church. Triple corbelled chancel arch springers survive. The chapter house on the E claustral range has an octagonal pier supporting 2-round arches at the entrance; this forms part of a C12 chamber, enlarged contemporary with the building of the church. The S end of the E range had the dorter and mid C13 warming house - the bases of 2 drum piers remain in the latter which was once vaulted; some C15 remodelling. The refectory on the S side is mid C13 and retains a fine, arcade W wall with annulettes to shafts; this included the reader's pulpit within the rounded arch and the adjacent lancets lit the projecting stairs. At the corner between the E and S ranges is the base of the day-stairs. Post-Dissolution half-timbered range to SE on site of former Infirmary or Abbots Lodgings.
Reason for designation
Listed Grade I as an important Welsh example of a Cistercian abbey.
Basingwerk Abbey is also a Scheduled Ancient Monument.
Nearby in the register
- Basingwerk AbbeyAbbeyunder 1 mi
- Railway Bridge Spanning the main coast road on a skewed lineTransportunder 1 mi
- Abbey HouseDomesticunder 1 mi
- The Valley LodgeDomesticunder 1 mi
Other entries of the same register within about three miles of this one, by straight line.