Llanthony Priory

The priory dates back to around the year 1100, when one of Hugh de Lacy's knights called William reputedly came upon a ruined chapel of St. David at this location; he was inspired to devote himself to solitary prayer and study. He was joined by Ersinius, a former chaplain to Queen Matilda, the wife of King Henry I, and then by a band of followers. A church was built on the site, dedicated to St John the Baptist, and consecrated in 1108. By 1118, a group of around 40 canons had founded there a priory of Canons Regular, the first in Wales. In 1135, after persistent attacks by the local Welsh population, the monks retreated to Gloucester, where they founded a secondary cell, Llanthony Secunda.…

In March 1188, on the way on his journey around Wales accompanying the Archbishop of Canterbury Baldwin of Forde, who was raising money and volunteers for the third crusade, Giraldus Cambrensis (Gerald of Wales) visited the priory and later wrote a description in Latin, part of which reads as follows: A work titled The History of Llanthony Priory was later issued anonymously, possibly written by Giraldus.