Chronicle of the Abbey of Evesham

The Chronicle of the Abbey of Evesham is a remarkable medieval history of one of England’s great Benedictine monasteries. Beginning with the abbey’s legendary and royal foundations, it traces the fortunes of Evesham through centuries of religious devotion, political conflict, legal struggle, rebuilding, reform, and royal patronage. At the heart of the chronicle is the abbey’s determination to defend its ancient liberties. Its monks record disputes with bishops, appeals to popes and papal legates, contested elections of abbots, lawsuits over lands and privileges, and the long struggle to preserve Evesham’s exemption from episcopal control. Alongside these institutional battles are vivid accounts of saints and miracles, including St Ecgwine, St Odulf and the royal martyr St Wistan, whose relics and cult formed an important part of the abbey’s identity. The chronicle also preserves a wealth of detail about everyday monastic life. It describes the building and repair of churches, cloisters, chapels, halls, mills, granges and fishponds; the acquisition of estates and revenues; the making of vestments, shrines, bells and liturgical books; and the provision of food, clothing, recreation and medical care for the monks. Successive abbots emerge not merely as religious superiors but as administrators, builders, patrons, diplomats and defenders of the community. Extending into the later Middle Ages, the narrative reflects the changing political world around Evesham, from the Norman Conquest and the Angevin kings to the Wars of the Roses and the reign of Henry VIII. The result is both a history of a single monastery and a richly detailed record of medieval English religious, legal, economic and political life. This edition offers modern readers direct access to one of the most important monastic chronicles of medieval England, revealing how the monks of Evesham understood their saints, their privileges, their rulers and their place in history.

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Gwal y Filiast Burial Chamber, Llanglydwen, Carmarthenshire, South West Wales, British Isles [Map]

Gwal y Filiast Burial Chamber is in Llanglydwen, Carmarthenshire, Prehistoric Wales Neolithic Burials.

Archaeologia Cambrensis 1872 Pages 81-143. Cut No. 7 represents the south or nearly south side of the Dolwilym chamber [Gwal y Filiast Burial Chamber [Map]]. The gap at the south-west corner was originally filled up by a slab, as already observed.

Cut No. 8 gives the north side, which consisted of a single slab joining the western one at right angles. The stone at the east end does not appear in the cut to be so much lower than the large western slab. A third and different view will also be found in one of the Plates.

Archaeologia Cambrensis 1872 Pages 81-143. One ot the most perfect and interesting dolmens [Gwal y Filiast Burial Chamber [Map]] in Wales stands in the grounds of Dolwilym, in the northern extremity of the parish of Llanboidy, in Carmarthen-shire. The spot in which it is placed commands a singularly picturesque view of the vale and river of Taf, and is about midway down the steep slope on the right side of the river. Originally the chamber consisted of five or rather six stones, although only four now remain. The fifth, now missing, filled up the empty space at the south-west angle; and in all probability there was a second small stone at the eastern end, as the one now there could not, from its shortness, have closed that entrance. The western side is formed of one large stone on which the capstone rests; whence it is certain that the entrance was not here, but at the opposite end, towards which also the capstone gradually inclines. The upright stone at the eastern end is only about 2 ft. high; that at the opposite extremity being 4 ft. 4 ins.,—a difference that would not be expected from the almost horizontal position of the capstone. Sir Gardner Wilkinson gives the length and breadth, 11 ft. 6 ins. and 8 ft. 10 ins. Another measurement, taken diagonally, gave the two diagonals, 11 and 10 ft. There are several scattered stones lying about, all probablyconnected with the chamber and mound; of which last, however, hardly any traces remain. There are in all thirty-two stones within the circle; but the exact position, on account of the long and wet grass, was not ascertained with any accuracy of detail on the occasion of its being examined; but at any rate there are the remains of the circle of Isolated stones which constantly surrounded the base of the tumulus, at, some little distance from it. It has two names according to E. Davies, the author of the well known volumes on Celtic antiquities and Druids, one of Which is Burdd Arthur (Arthur's table), and the other, Gwâl y Vilast (the couch of the greyhound bitch). Of this animal there are many records scattered over Wales, Thus Ffynnon Milgi, in Llanelidan parish, in Denbighshire, is one instance. The inner sides of the upright stones are smooth and regular, while the lower face of the capstone, contrary to the more usual practice, is extremely rough and rugged. Near it is what is known as Crochan Arthur.

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