| 1140 | A community of Cistercian Monks from Clairvaux arrive at St. Davids on the 16th of September at the invitation of the Norman Bishop Bernard. An Abbey is founded and remained under episcopal patronage until it was suppressed by King Henry VIII in 1539. Dedicated to the Virgin Mary, the Abbey was referred to as Alba Landa. Its location remains unknown. |
| 1144 | A second site for the Abbey is established in the medieval Cantref of Deuglethef, at a place called Trefgarn. Little Trefgarn near Haverfordwest is believed to be the location, rather than a site with the same name, near Lampeter Velfrey. A possible site has been identified by Archaeologist (Neil Ludlow). The Fundatio document found at Vaucelles Abbey refers to it as Travagar. A charter from Bishop Richard of Menevia (St. Davids) dated 1259/60 refers to it as Traveger. |
| 1151-1157 | After the death of Bernard, the Abbey moves to its third and final location at Whitland (Alba Landa or Blanchland in medieval documents). 1151 is the date suggested by Janauschek, and has gained acceptance for the construction of the Abbey Church. The site was chosen for political and practical reasons. These were turbulent times between the remote king, his Norman barons and the Welsh. The site had an excellent water supply provided by the Afon Gronwy and Nant Colomendy. A Roman road was only one kilometre south. The Abbey site was under the lordship of St. Clears and William FitzHait (FitzHay) was favoured as the land donor. A Confirmation Charter of the foundation issued by King John in 1214 names John of Torrington, a Devon magnate, Constable of Carmarthen and Pembroke castles (1199 and 1200), who granted the Abbey extensive surrounding lands. These dates are far later than 1151 and this confirmation suggests a display of the King’s authority. The Vaucelles Fundatio suggests a complex re-foundation arrangement between Clairvaux and Vaucelles. Whitland was established with a Clairvaux abbot (Ivo) and monks from Vaucelles. Ivo quickly resigned and was replaced by Walter of Vaucelles, making Whitland a daughter of Vaucelles, not Clairvaux. At the turn of the century, Cistercian records name Clairvaux as the Mother Abbey of Whitland. However, the Fundatio states that Vaucelles was not happy that Whitland was returned to Clairvaux. |
| 1164-1225 | The White Monks of Whitland formed Welsh daughter houses at Strata Florida, Strata Marcella and Cwmhir, as well as two Irish daughters at Comber and Tracton (where Welsh was spoken) between these years. The Welsh daughters founded houses at Llantarnam, Aberconwy, Cymer and Valle Crucis. |
| 1165 | Although Whitland was established under Anglo-Norman patronage, the growing influence of Rhys ap Gruffudd in the area led to him being instrumental in the appointment of Cynan, Whitlands’ second Welsh Abbot. Cynan, initially the Abbey’s Prior, replaced fellow Welshman Walter, as Abbot. Walter had lost the trust of King Henry II and had to resign. Rhys did not acquire the patronage of Whitland until later in the decade, when through a combination of statesmanship and the sword, the Abbey became known as a centre of Welsh culture and resistance. Rhys and several of his sons added to the house’s endowments. |
| 1171 | The importance of Whitland Abbey is underlined by the Lord Rhys choosing it as the venue to pay homage to Henry II. |
| 1186 | Whitland is used as a mausoleum by its Welsh royal patrons beginning with the burial of Rhys’ son Cadwaladr. During these thriving years, a later document claimed there was a community of 100 monks and lay-brothers. An annual fair was held at Eglwys-Fair. |
| 1188 | The entourage of Archbishop Baldwin of Canterbury, accompanied by Gerald of Wales stayed at the Abbey during the preaching of the third crusade. |
| 1220 | The Abbey complained about the financial burden of hospitality – abbots travelling to the General Chapter at Citeaux often broke their journey’s at Whitland. |
| 1239 | Rhys’ s son Meredydd Ddall, who had been blinded on the orders of Henry II following the king’s failed campaign in North Wales (1165), was buried at the Abbey. Meredydd had become a Whitland monk following his release by Henry. Meredydd and his brother Hywel Sais had been given to Henry as hostages by their father Rhys. Although Hywel was released later than his brother, he fared much better. Hywel was not blinded and within a short time returned to fight at Henry’s side when his father Rhys was returned to the king’s favour. |
| 1257 | Whitland Abbey and its Welsh allegiances led to it becoming involved in the wars of the 13th Century. The resulting English reverse of 1257 saw a band of knights under Patrick de Chaworth Lord of Kidwelly, Nicholas FitzMartin Lord of Cemaes, and Stephen Bauzan Lord of Breigan and Llansannor enter the abbey precinct. They beat the monks and killed some of the servants in the cemetery. Payne de Chaworth’s donation in 1270 of 19 acres of arable land and a foundation of a chantry (chapel) for the souls of his brother Patrick and other family members appears to be penance for the deed. |
| 1258 | The Abbey was plundered by royalists again on February 4th and servants were killed in the skirmish. |
| 1271 | Maredudd ap Rhys Gryg, a grandson of Rhys, is buried at the steps to the High Altar. |
| 1274 | Despite Whitland supporting Llywelyn ap Gruffudd when accusations were made against him by the Bishop of St. Asaph, the Abbey had changed its allegiance to the English crown. Whitland stood for the King during the baronial unrests of the reign of Henry III, gaining royal protection in 1268. |
| 1277 | Forces loyal to the English King were mustered at the Abbey and were in collusion with the house. |
| 1280 | Although now in allegiance with the English Crown, the Abbey continued to be singled out for punitive measures. The Abbey woods along with those belonging to the grandsons’ of Rhys ap Gruffudd, were cut down under supervision, as they were accused of harbouring Welsh rebels. |
| 1291 | Taxio Ecclesiastica put Whitland’s estimate income at £43-15s-4d. This insignificant amount was a consequence of the Edwardian wars. Following this period, the Abbey sought compensation for war damages. It is not known if this relates to the war of 1282-83, or the later rising of 1294-95. |
| 1295 | King Edward I stays at the Abbey on June 5th, during the revolts. |
| 1315 | The Foundation Charter was confirmed again, as well as in 1339, 1447 and 1508. |
| 1320 | Whitlands’ Abbot decided to be governed by English rather than the traditional Welsh custom that had been established. |
| 1347 | The Black Death hastened an economic decline for the Abbey. |
| 1377 | Clerical poll tax payments are demanded from the Abbey; and again in 1379. |
| 1403 | The Abbot of Whitland is branded a rebel and for supporting Owain Glyndwr. The Abbey suffers punitive measures again. |
| 1433 | Whitland Abbot David ap Rhys is charged for his alleged part in the treason of Henry V’s brother, Humphrey Plantagenet. He was pardoned after a brief time, in which the abbey possessions were sequestrated. The charges were never clear and were probably retribution for the Glyndwr uprising. |
| 1491 | Abbot Huby of Fountains, reformator of the Cistercian Houses in England and Wales, deposed the Abbot of Whitland “for moral laxity and illicit contracts”. |
| 1496 | Abbot Huby of Fountains, reformator of the Cistercian houses in A monk of Neath Abbey fatally stabbed Priest Dom Henry Vaughan in the cloister of Whitland. |
| 1536 | Whitland Abbey was dissolved along with other houses with incomes of less than £200. |
| 1537 | The Abbey is reformed in April 1537, by the “Will of King Henry VIII”, probably for a payment of £400. |
| 1539 | The King’s reprieve is short lived and Whitland Abbey is voluntarily surrendered for the final time. The 399-year life of a Cistercian abbey that began in 1140, is at an end. |
Whitland Abbey post medieval history | |
| 1544 | Whitlands’ Demesne may have been granted briefly to Sir Thomas Audley and John Cordel. |
| 1545 | The Abbey site was leased to Dr. John Vaughan for 11 15s 0d. Along with Sir John Perrot, complaints were made of repeated attempts to acquire Abbey possessions and holdings, including the tolls from Eglwys Fair. Some of the Abbeys’ finer stones were used by Perrot in his Elizabethan residence at Laugharne Castle and St. Peter’s in Carmarthen. |
| 1605 | The Abbey estate is acquired by the Brett family of London and a site residence, is claimed but not proven. |
| 1636 | An ironworks appears to have been established by industrialist George Mynne. The Forge was operational by 1638 under his agent William Rutland. |
| 1648 | George Mynne dies. The Forge also supplied cannon shot for Cromwells’ siege of Pembroke in the same year. |
| 1650s | The Forge is operational under Rutland until sometime in this decade, but its later tenancy is not known until 1722. |
| 1722 | The Forge is leased to Peter Chetle. |
| 1729 | Peter Chetle sells his interest in the abbey works to Lewis Hughes of Carmarthen. |
| 1789 | After an unknown period of closure, Whitland Forge is leased by John Morgan, the son of the great Carmarthenshire Ironmaster Robert Morgan, for an annual sublet of £80. Morgan purchased the freehold. |
| 1808 | Whitland Forge is leased for the final time for £168 per annum. |
| 1809 | The Forge closes. |
| 1825 | John Morgan’s heiress married the Hon. William Yelverton, who acquired the Whitland site in 1836. Yelverton proceeded to build the present mansion, Whitland Abbey House and the Home Farm with the walled garden, in the middle of the Century. |
| 1898 | Whitland Abbey is passed by marriage to the Blake Family. In the 20th century was split into three properties, Whitland Abbey House, Home Farm and walled garden and the abbey church site. The abbey church site was gifted to the Catholic Diocese of Menevia by Miss Blake. |
| 1990s | Carmarthen District Council signed a 25-year lease with the Menevia Diocese, to care for and promote the Abbey Church ruins. Dyfed Archaeological Trust and students at Trinity College Carmarthen investigated the site and consolidated the Church ruins for public display. Finds and stone assets were taken to the County Museum and Trinity Carmarthen for display and research, where they remain today (2025). |
| 2021 | Canolfan Hywel Dda takes on the elapsed lease, in conjunction with a group of volunteers called Friends of Whitland Abbey. |