Margam Abbey

Margam Abbey was a Cistercian monastery, founded in 1147 as a daughter house of Clairvaux. Early Christian crosses found in the close vicinity suggest the existence of an earlier Celtic monastic community.

The Annales de Margan are a contemporary chronicle, beginning with the death of Edward the Confessor in 1066 and ending with Henry III's quarrel with Hubert de Burgh in the year 1232. The text gives accounts of the purported discovery of the bones of King Arthur, and of the alleged murder of Prince Arthur by King John.

The abbey was dissolved by King Henry VIII of England in 1536 and sold to Sir Rice Mansel. Significant holdings of the monastery library appear to have survived this event, including the manuscript of the annals. At this time, only 12 monks were living in the monastery. From the Mansel family the abbey eventually passed to their descendants in the Talbot family. In the 19th century, C R M Talbot constructed a mansion at Margam Castle which overlooks the abbey ruins. The nave of the abbey continued in use as the parish church, as it does to this day.

The remains of the 12-sided chapter house. Its roof stayed intact until 1799.