Written by Dave Walsh-Gibbon (April 2020)

On November 8th 2015, my youngest son and I set off on a quest to find the ruins of a Cistercian medieval monastery called Whitland Abbey.

Our first sighting was promising, a well-cared for large area of lawn with a wall running along its northern edge. In the middle of the wall was a wooden door.

Unsure, if this was a very large private garden (it was), we followed the road so that we could see what was hidden on the other side of the wall.

The large garden, apart from a lot of lawn, contained a section of low ruined wall, a rather impressive stone structure in the middle and a standing, crumbling wall in the south western corner. The garden was encased in a wall along its boundaries, joining the wooden doored wall at both east and west corners. Underneath this large picturesque garden lay the cloisters and all the building footprints (except the church) of the magnificent Whitland Abbey. Most of the visible stonework, including the impressive gated wall, was built by the Victorians, with some original medieval stone included.

The tall crumbling south western corner was medieval.

Our first view of the Abbey Church site on the other side of the gated wall, was depressing. A field, boundaried by trees along two sides and a root ridden wall topped with wire running along the road. The overgrown, soggy field was full of lumps and bumps and a large tree was growing peacefully in the middle of the eastern end of the church, though there were no visible signs that here slumbered the remains of what was once Wales premier Cistercian Abbey Church. Somewhere below us, resting in peace, lay a collection of Welsh medieval royalty, poets, soldiers and monks.

About halfway along the northern edge was a barely readable stone information plinth.

As we stood in the middle of this sacred site, my thoughts turned to other Welsh Abbeys I had visited. Although themselves ruined, none were as neglected or invisible as Whitland.

I asked myself, should I leave this hidden place to its tranquillity and neglect? After all, its medieval layers lay protected by the weeds and grass.

As the sun began setting, I knew that I felt compelled to share its rich history, its importance as a centre of Welsh medieval culture. It felt like it was the right thing to do.

Fast forward three and a half years.  in June 2019, Whitland Town Council, sign a rolling Lease with Menevia Diocese to care for and promote the Abbey Church ruins.

We have a Council Working Party to which the public can be co-opted and a five year plan.

The thank you’s are too many to record here, however we have a growing group of talented people and other heritage groups, who are advising and supporting us.

Please consider volunteering by signing up via our website and join us in our stewardship of the majestic Whitland Abbey Church.