St Mary's Priory — Attraction in Abergavenny

The church has loads of history to it, only popped in as was in the area, and didn't know about the history of it, found this on the web, St. Mary's has been called "the Westminster Abbey of Wales" because of its large size, and the numerous high status tomb monuments and medieval effigies surviving within it. The church was designated as a Grade I listed building on 1 July 1952. The church has a notable collection of memorial effigies. The effigies are in wood, alabaster and marble and range in date from the 13th century to the 17th century. One effigy is that of John de Hastings, Lord of Abergavenny (died 1324) and shows him as a young knight, wearing a long surcoat over a hauberk and a hood of fine chainmail. The Jesse is an elaborate, very large, 15th-century wooden carving which would have once been part of an even larger carving forming a Jesse Tree telling the lineage of Jesus Christ based on that in the Bible. It is unique in Britain and described by Tate Britain as one of the finest medieval sculptures in the world. The art historian Andrew Graham-Dixon called it the one “unarguably great wooden figure” remaining from the Middle Ages. Although the Norman building was built around 1070, a previous Iron Age, Roman or Post-Roman structure existed on the site. Archaeological surveys have found significant finds of Samian ware pottery, and a church named "The church of the Holy Rood" is known to have existed in the town, but its exact location is not known. As all churches should be, it's free, definitely worth a visit if you...

Another place on the St Thomas Way here in Abergavenny to get face to face with men and women from Abergavenny’s medieval past is in the town’s historic St Mary’s Priory Church. Founded in 1087, most of the visible church today is fourteenth century, with the Sanctuary dating to the twelfth century. St Mary’s is famous for its impressive medieval effigies and monumental sculpture, now mostly housed in the two chapels towards the east end of the church. Highlights include the carved alabaster tomb of Sir William ap Thomas (who began building Raglan Castle, and died 1446) and his wife Gwladys, and the magnificent tomb of Sir Richard Herbert of Ewyas (died 1510), with a tiny ‘beadsman’ (a monk praying with a rosary) hiding under his foot. Here you will also find the tomb of Eva de Briouze (Braose), cousin of the Lord William de Briouze who hanged William Cragh (The Hanged Man in the St Thomas Way story). She married William de Cantilupe, Lord of Abergavenny – the older brother of Thomas Cantilupe (who became St Thomas of Hereford). Another great treasure here in St Mary’s is the huge fifteenth-century wooden sleeping Jesse figure. This would once have formed part of a screen, with Jesse dreaming the lineage of Christ in the form of a tree. Outside, the Abbot’s Garden re-creates a medieval physic garden with medicinal herbs. St Thomas Way is a heritage route from Swansea to Hereford, inspired by a real medieval pilgrimage (read more on the St Thomas...

Lovely medieval church that I visited some years ago specifically to see the Recumbent Figure of Jesse. Much bigger than I was expecting, made in the early 15th century and constructed from one mahoosive piece of wood! Of course back then, there were far less people and this enabled forest trees to grow to spectacular size. Possibly ties in with the early Tudor dynasty's Jasper Tudor 2nd husband to Margaret Beaufort. Who commissioned many stained glass windows of Jesse elsewhere and was the main patron of St Mary's Priory. I was equally blown away by the intricacy of the stone carved tombs of a number of Knights and Ladies. Beautiful stained glass windows and blessed with a lovely physic (medicinal herb) garden too! Although much of the building is 12th and 14th century, the Priory was founded in 1087. Definitely worth a visit! In close proximity to the Gavenny River, tourist information centre and Abergavenny Museum. Nearest station is...