:Ewenny Priory

{{Infobox historic site

| name = Ewenny Priory

| image = Ewenny Priory Church.jpg

| caption = "The most complete and impressive Norman ecclesiastical building in Glamorgan"

| type = Priory

| locmapin = Wales Vale of Glamorgan

| map_relief = yes

| coordinates = {{coord|51.4888|-3.5676|display=inline,title}}

| location = Ewenny, Vale of Glamorgan

| area =

| built =

| architect =

| architecture = Romanesque

| owner =

| designation1 = Grade I

| designation1_offname = Ewenny Priory Church

| designation1_date = 26 July 1963

| designation1_number = 11250

| designation2 = Grade I listed building

| designation2_offname = Church of St Michael

| designation2_date = 26 July 1963

| designation2_number = 11251

| designation3 = Grade I listed building

| designation3_offname = North Tower and attached stretch of precinct wall at Ewenny Priory (house)

| designation3_date = 3 March 1998

| designation3_number = 19470

| designation4 = Grade I listed building

| designation4_offname = North Gatehouse at Ewenny Priory (house)

| designation4_date = 3 March 1998

| designation4_number = 19462

| designation5 = Grade I listed building

| designation5_offname = South Gatehouse at Ewenny Priory (house)

| designation5_date = 3 March 1998

| designation5_number = 19471

}}

Ewenny Priory ({{langx|cy|Priordy Ewenni}}), in Ewenny in the Vale of Glamorgan, Wales, was a monastery of the Benedictine order, founded in the 12th century. The priory was unusual in having extensive military-style defences and in its state of preservation; the architectural historian John Newman described it as “the most complete and impressive Norman ecclesiastical building in Glamorgan”. Following the Dissolution of the Monasteries, parts of the priory were converted into a private house by Sir Edward Carne, a lawyer and diplomat. This Elizabethan house was demolished between 1803 and 1805 and replaced by a Georgian mansion, Ewenny Priory House. The house is still owned by the Turbervill family, descendants of Sir Edward. The priory is not open to the public apart from the Church of St Michael, the western part of the priory building, which continues to serve as the parish church (Church in Wales) for the village. The priory is in the care of Cadw and is a Grade I listed building.

History

The priory was founded by Maurice de Londres in 1141.{{sfn|Newman|1995|p=343}} Maurice granted the Norman church of St. Michael to the abbey of St. Peter at Gloucester, now Gloucester Cathedral, together with the church of St Brides Major and the chapel at Ogmore "in order that a convent of monks might be formed".{{sfn|Newman|1995|p=343}}{{efn|Maurice de Londres' tomb is located in the priory church at Ewenny.{{sfn|Kenyon|2010|p=129}}}} The church had been built in the 12th century by his father, William de Londres, one of the Norman knights of Glamorgan.{{sfn|Newman|1995|p=343}}

There had been an older, monastic cell on the site, of the Celtic church. It is described in the 12th century Book of Llandaff as dedicated to Eguenni, an early Welsh saint. De Londres plundered the site with the intent of building a castle on it but was stopped by a decree from Pope Honorius II dated 12 April 1128 which threatened De Londres with excommunication.

The priory was dissolved in 1536 by which time its complement of monks totalled only three.{{sfn|Whittle|1992b|p=164}} It was leased in the same year to Sir Edward Carne.{{sfn|Whittle|1992b|p=165}} Carne was a lawyer and diplomat, and held a number of positions at the courts of Henry VIII and of his successors.{{cite web|url=https://www.historyofparliamentonline.org/volume/1509-1558/member/carne-sir-edward-149596-1561|title=Sir Edward Carne (1495/6-1561)|publisher=History of Parliament Online|access-date=6 August 2022}}{{efn|Sir Edward Carne ultimately fell out with Elizabeth I and declined to return to England from his diplomatic posting in Rome, for fear that his Catholicism would lead to the forfeiture of his estates. He died in the city in 1560 and is buried in the Church of St Andrew and St Gregory.{{cite DWB|id=s-CARN-EDW-1500|first=Arthur Herbert|last=Dodd|title=Sir Edward Carne (c.1500-1561)|access-date=6 August 2022}}}} In 1545 he purchased the priory, along with its possessions and began the construction of Ewenny Priory House, incorporating many of the priory structures. The Carnes also established two deer parks on the estate, one for fallow and one for red deer.{{sfn|Whittle|1992a|p=24}} The estate descended in the Carne family to Edward Carne (died 1650) who was succeeded by his two daughters and co-heirs, Blanche and Martha. Blanche (died 1685) inherited Ewenny, and married her cousin Colonel Sir John Carne (died 1682), of Corntown. Their son Richard Carne (c.1669-1713) was succeeded by his two sisters and co-heirs, Frances (died 1714), the wife of Edward Turbervill of Sutton, and Jane (died 1741). Edward and Frances Turbervill were succeeded by their son Richard Turbervill, who became the sole owner of the Ewenny estate on the death of his aunt in 1741.

By the late 18th century, the Carne house was in a state of dereliction; John Byng the diarist described it as a “miserable mansion” following a visit in 1787.{{cite web|url=https://coflein.gov.uk/media/18/965/cpg204.pdf|title=Ewenny Priory|publisher=RCAHMW|access-date=6 August 2022}} In 1803-1805 the Elizabethan house was demolished and a new Georgian building constructed by Richard Turbervill Picton. He was succeeded by his son Richard Turvervill Turbervill (died 1848), who was succeeded in turn by his brother Colonel Gervase Powell Turberville, who died childless c.1862. The estate then passed to his great-nephew Lieutenant-Colonel Thomas Picton-Warlow (died 1892), who changed his name to Thomas Picton-Turbervill in 1867 and from him passed down in the Picton-Turbervill family for several generations.{{cite web|url= http://calmview.cardiff.gov.uk/Record.aspx?src=CalmView.Catalog&id=DE|title=Ewenny Estate Records|publisher=Glamorganshire Archive Services|access-date=6 August 2022}}

J. M. W. Turner painted the priory during his third tour of Wales in 1795.{{cite web|url= https://museum.wales/collections/online/object/dce378a2-4918-3319-94de-7987d2cea312/Transept-of-Ewenny-Priory-Glamorganshire/ |title=Transept of Ewenny Priory, Glamorganshire|publisher=National Museum Wales|access-date=6 August 2022}}

The priory church and much of the complex is now in the care of Cadw.{{NHAW|num=11250|desc=Ewenny Priory Church|grade=I|access-date=7 August 2022}} Ewenny Priory House and its gardens remain a private residence of the Picton-Turbervill family who also operate the house as a wedding venue.{{cite web|url=https://www.ewennypriory.co.uk/|title=Ewenny Priory|publisher=Ewenny Priory Estate|access-date=7 August 2022}} St Michael's Church continues to serve as the parish church for the village.{{sfn|Fox|1954|p=50}} The church underwent reconstruction in the early 21st century, including the installation of a glass screen designed by Alexander Beleschenko which divided it from the unused eastern part of the building.{{cite web|url=http://www.caroe.co.uk/portfolio_craftDetail.php?Ewenny-Priory-Church-of-St-Michael-Glass-Screen-1|title=Ewenny Priory Church of St Michael|publisher=Caroe and Partners|access-date=6 August 2022}}

Architecture and description

The priory site is broadly rectangular and stands on the southern bank of the Ewenny River.{{sfn|Whittle|1992b|p=165}} The priory church stands to the east, with walls to the east, north and west. The site was originally fully enclosed but the southern range was destroyed during the construction of Ewenny Priory House in the very early 19th century.{{sfn|Whittle|1992b|p=166}} The walls are pierced by two gatehouses to the north and south and three towers to the north, west and east.{{sfn|Whittle|1992b|p=165}} The priory site is generally in a good state of preservation; aside from the building of the house from 1803 to 1805, and a “conservative restoration” undertaken by Thomas Picton Turbervill between 1869 and 1886, it has seen little development. John Newman, in his 1995 edition, Glamorgan of the Pevsner Buildings of Wales series, describes the priory church as the “most complete and impressive Norman ecclesiastical building in Glamorgan.”{{sfn|Newman|1995|p=343}}

The scale of the defensive works built around a minor priory has puzzled historians. Michael Salter, in his study Castles of Gwent, Glamorgan and Gower, suggests that the extensive defences were primarily for show, citing the absence of any defensive ditch, the weakness of the positioning and the large extent of the complex which would have required a very considerable force to defend.{{sfn|Salter|2002|p=75}} Elisabeth Whittle supports this analysis, describing the complex's defences as "a façade, a show of strength built only to impress", but notes that the scale and solidity of the construction are indeed impressive.{{sfn|Whittle|1992b|p=165}} Newman also considers the walls were built for display, rather than to “afford serious protection”, but is uncertain as to why “such a small and relatively poor community felt it should put on such an expensive show”.{{sfn|Newman|1995|p=346}}

The priory church is a notable, and rare, example of Romanesque architecture with rounded arches, barrel vaulting and geometric decoration.{{sfn|Whittle|1992b|p=164}} The cruciform plan of the church is also typical of the period and style.{{sfn|Newman|1995|p=343}} Simon Jenkins critiques the Beleschenko screen, installed in 2004, as breaking the “spatial integrity of the interior”.{{sfn|Jenkins|2008|p=156}}

=Listing designations=

The priory complex has a large number of listed buildings. Those at Grade I include: the eastern{{NHAW|num=11250|desc=Ewenny Priory Church |grade=I|access-date=6 August 2022}} and western parts of the priory church;{{NHAW|num=11251|desc=St Michael's Church|grade=I|access-date=6 August 2022}} the original West doorcase, now sited in the East wall of the priory enclosure;{{NHAW|num=19466|desc=Romanesque gateway in former east precinct wall at Ewenny Priory (house)|grade=I|access-date=6 August 2022}} the North Tower,{{NHAW|num=19470|desc=North Tower and attached stretch of precinct wall at Ewenny Priory (house)|grade=I|access-date=6 August 2022}} and the North{{NHAW|num=19462|desc=North Gatehouse at Ewenny Priory (house)|grade=I|access-date=6 August 2022}} and South Gatehouses;{{NHAW|num=19471|desc=South Gatehouse at Ewenny Priory (house)|grade=I|access-date=6 August 2022}} and the wall standing on the western side of the site.{{NHAW|num=19460|desc=West Precinct Wall at Ewenny Priory (house)|grade=I|access-date=6 August 2022}} Buildings designated Grade II* include: Ewenny Priory House;{{NHAW|num=11249|desc=Ewenny Priory House|grade=II*|access-date=6 August 2022}} a barn;{{NHAW|num=19463|desc=Ewenny Priory|grade=II*|access-date=6 August 2022}} a medieval fish pond;{{NHAW|num=19469|desc=Medieval fishpool in W part of Ewenny Priory (house) gardens |grade=II*|access-date=6 August 2022}} the wall that encloses the eastern side of the precinct;{{NHAW|num=19465|desc=East Precinct Wall at Ewenny Priory (house)|grade=II*|access-date=6 August 2022}} and the former South East Tower.{{NHAW|num=19467|desc=Former South East Tower at Ewenny Priory (house)|grade=II*|access-date=6 August 2022}} Those structures listed at Grade II include: the North,{{NHAW|num=19472|desc=Stable Court North Range at Ewenny Priory (house)|grade=II|access-date=6 August 2022}} West,{{NHAW|num=19474|desc=Stable Court West Range at Ewenny Priory (house)|grade=II|access-date=6 August 2022}} and East ranges of the stable courtyard;{{NHAW|num=19473|desc=Stable Court East Range at Ewenny Priory (house)|grade=II|access-date=6 August 2022}} the precinct wall to the north-east;{{NHAW|num=19461|desc=North East precinct Wall at Ewenny Priory (house)|grade=II|access-date=6 August 2022}} a wall running between the northern and southern gatehouses;{{NHAW|num=19464|desc=Garden wall linking northern and southern gatehouses at Ewenny Priory (house)|grade=II|access-date=6 August 2022}} and a gateway and wall which forms part of the 19th-century remodelling of the grounds.{{NHAW|num=19468|desc=Garden gateway with gates and attached wall at Ewenny Priory (house)|grade=II|access-date=6 August 2022}}

The priory is also a scheduled monument,{{Coflein|num=143|desc=Ewenny Priory|access-date=6 August 2022}} as is the Romanesque Gateway,{{Coflein|num=309109|desc=Ewenny Priory|access-date=6 August 2022}} the dovecote,{{Coflein|num=37532|desc=Ewenny Priory Dovecot|access-date=6 August 2022}} the North{{Coflein|num=309102|desc=Ewenny Priory North Gatehouse|access-date=6 August 2022}} and South Gatehouses,{{Coflein|num=309108|desc=Ewenny Priory South Gatehouse|access-date=6 August 2022}} the barn,{{Coflein|num=414427|desc=Ewenny Barn|access-date=6 August 2022}} the stables,{{Coflein|num=37533|desc=Ewenny Priory Stables|access-date=6 August 2022}} the precinct walls,{{Coflein|num=300298|desc=Ewenny Priory Precinct Walls|access-date=6 August 2022}} and Ewenny Priory House.{{Coflein|num=308|desc=Ewenny Priory House|access-date=6 August 2022}} The grounds are designated Grade II on the Cadw/ICOMOS Register of Parks and Gardens of Special Historic Interest in Wales.{{NHAW|uid=206|desc=Ewenny Priory|class=HPG|num=PGW(Gm)14(GLA)|access-date=6 August 2022}}

Gallery

Turner, J. M. W. - Transept of Ewenny Priory, Glamorganshire.jpg|Transept of Ewenny Priory by J. M. W. Turner

The south west view of Ewenny priory, in the county of Glamorgan.jpeg|An engraving of the priory complex from 1741

Ewenny Priory exterior 062415.jpg|Ewenny Priory exterior

Ewenny Priory interior 062415.jpg|Ewenny Priory interior

Ruins of Ewenny Priory, Ewenny - geograph.org.uk - 2999454.jpg|Walls surrounding the priory precinct

Grade II listed Top Lodge, Corntown (geograph 4243839).jpg|One of the two 19th-century lodges built in emulation of the priory's medieval walls

Footnotes

References

Sources

{{cite book

| last=Fox |first=Cyril

| author-link = Cyril Fox

| title = South Wales and Monmouthshire: Illustrated Regional Guide to Ancient Monuments

| volume = 4

| url = https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/1181693161

| location = London

| publisher = HMSO

| year= 1954

| oclc= 1181693161

}}

{{Cite book

| last=Jenkins

| first=Simon

| author-link=Simon Jenkins

| title=Wales: Churches, Houses, Castles

| url=https://books.google.com/books?id=NFk3AQAAIAAJ&q=editions:ISBN0141024127|year=2008

| publisher=Penguin Books

| location=London

| isbn=978-0-713-99893-1

}}

{{cite book

| last=Kenyon |first=John R.

| title = The Medieval Castles of Wales

| url = https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/837173639

| location = Cardiff

| publisher = University of Wales Press

| year= 2010

| isbn = 978-0-708-32180-5

|oclc=837173639

}}

{{cite book

| last = Newman

| first = John

| author-link = John Newman (architectural historian)

| year = 1995

| title = The Buildings of Wales: Glamorgan

| url = https://books.google.com/books?id=DpUMspCtpNIC&q=The+Buildings+of+Wales%3A+Glamorgan

| publisher = Penguin Books

| location = London

| isbn = 978-0-140-71056-4

}}

{{Cite book

| last = Salter

| first = Mike

| title = Castles of Gwent, Glamorgan and Gower

| year = 2002

| publisher = Folly Publications

| location = Malvern, UK

| isbn = 978-1-871-73161-3

}}

{{Cite book

|last=Whittle

|first=Elisabeth

|title=The Historic Gardens of Wales

|year=1992a

|url=https://archive.org/details/historicgardenso0000whit

|location=Cardiff

|publisher=CADW

|isbn=978-0-117-01578-4

|url-access=registration

}}

{{Cite book

|last=Whittle|first=Elisabeth

|author-mask=1

|title=A Guide to Ancient and Historic Wales: Glamorgan and Gwent

|url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/30739843

|year=1992b

|publisher=HMSO

|location=London

|isbn=978-0-117-01221-9

|oclc=30739843

}}

External links

[http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/southeast/sites/cowbridge/pages/ewenny_priory.shtml BBC Wales feature on Ewenny Priory]
[http://stainedglass.llgc.org.uk/site/352 Artwork at St Michael]

Images

[http://www.britainexpress.com/wales/cardiff/abbeys/ewenny-p1.htm Priory interior]
[https://web.archive.org/web/20060113214643/http://www.glamorganwalks.com/wpeA2.jpg St. Michael's Church]

Category:Grade I listed churches in the Vale of Glamorgan

Category:Grade II* listed buildings in the Vale of Glamorgan

Category:Church in Wales church buildings in the Vale of Glamorgan

Category:Christian monasteries in Wales

Category:Benedictine monasteries in Wales

Category:Christian monasteries established in the 1140s

Category:Cadw

Category:Country houses in Wales

Category:12th-century establishments in Wales

Category:Fortified church buildings in the United Kingdom

Category:Grade II* listed monasteries

Category:Monasteries dissolved under the English Reformation

Category:Registered historic parks and gardens in the Vale of Glamorgan