Strata Florida Abbey - 'Valley of Flowers'

Abaty Ystrad Fflur in the Welsh tongue. This former Cistercian abbey, just outside Pontrhydfendigaid, near Tregaron in the county of Ceredigion, Wales was founded in 1146 by the Cambro-Norman Knight Robert FitzStephen.

The name Strata Florida is a Latinisation of the Welsh Ystrad Fflur which means 'Valley of Flowers'.

Strata Florida controlled many farms throughout Wales; these "granges" provided the monastery with food and income.

In 1401, during Owain Glyndŵr's rebellion, Strata Florida Abbey was taken by King Henry IV and his son. The monks, sympathetic to Glyndŵr, were evicted and the monastery plundered. It was then turned into a military base. It was returned to the Cistercians with the end of the rebellion.

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[ellenfielding]

Gosh! Thanks for the blast from the past. I lived as a child literally just up the road from there at a farm called Penddol Fawr. As a child we would play within the ruins. Thanks for bringing back my childhood memories from 40 years ago.

[lizadams]

That pillared entrance is great. I expect it would be good to see floorplans and expo from people who do this stuff. Interesting blueprints.
On to vital questions: Jo, did you knit Ian's combo gloves! And your own set of hat, scarf, gloves? They're pretty impressive. Okay, back to castling, except that's a chess move.

[VivianFarrell-thjd]

Henry Viii was an absolute tyrant who executed far more people than his daughter known as Bloody Mary. The Cistercian monks led a life of prayer and hard work. They employed many local people on their farms and helped the poor of the locality. Henry was solely interested in grabbing as much Church property as possible for his coffers under the guise of reforming the Church. The Catholic people of England and Wales were deeply distressed at this adultrous king whose main aim was to obtain a male heir. Sadly for Henry his sole legitimate heir, Edward died in his teenage years.