Penmon Priory is a delightful spot at the south eastern tip of Anglesey. Part of its charm is that it has yet to reach the tick list of must see sights and doesn’t get many visitors.
Although the Romans brought Christianity to Wales, it never really became established until the arrival of Celtic missionary saints in the C6th who established small monasteries, usually around an existing holy well.
St Seiriol, who was of noble birth, settled here in the C6th and built a small cell (clas) next to a holy well and began to preach and baptise. Gradually a monastic settlement grew up here and its fame spread. It became very prosperous with two fine carved stone crosses, but it was looted and destroyed by the Vikings in the C10th.
The present stone built Abbey Church dates from the C12th and is regarded as the finest and most complete examples of a church of this period in Gwynedd.
In the early C13th, the Celtic community was reorganised under the Augustinian Rule and the refectory and dormitory buildings were added. The priory was dissolved in 1538 and became the property of the Bulkeleys of Beaumaris, who lived in the prior’s lodging. They enclosed much of the land as a deer park with a tall stone wall round it and built the dovecot. The priory church remained in use as the parish church.
The prior’s lodging is now a private house, but there is access to the church, the ruins of the monastic buildings, St Seiriol's well and the dovecote.
The dovecote is a massive stone building with massive domed roof with a cupola at the top. It was built by the Bulkeleys in 1600 and could house nearly 1,000 birds. Entry is through a tiny door with a step down. The inside is lined with nest boxes. The central pillar is thought to have provided support for the ladder needed to access the nest boxes. The doves could fly in and out of the cupola.
St Seiriol's well is reached by a path from the car park, past the monastic fish pond. The stone foundations by the well building were probably a monastic cell used by St Seiriol.
The brick and stone shelter is early C18th. It is approached along a rough path with stone steps. It is surrounded by a stone wall and reached along a rough path with stones forming small steps. The well was reputed to be a healing well as also provided fresh water for the monastery.
Inside, the lower part of the well chamber surrounded by flat stones may date back to early Christian times. There are stone benches and recesses in the walls where offerings could be left. The well was reputed to be a healing well as also provided fresh water for the monastery.
The C13th south range below the church is now a roofless shell but contains a tall inscribed stone cross.
This contained the domestic areas. On the ground floor were cellars and storage areas. On the first floor was the refectory, reached by an outside stair. It would have had a door into the cloisters which were at a higher level than the present road. Above would have been the dormitory. To the right is a later C16th building with a fireplace which may have been the private apartment for a senior member of the monastic community.
Although the Romans brought Christianity to Wales, it never really became established until the arrival of Celtic missionary saints in the C6th who established small monasteries, usually around an existing holy well.
St Seiriol, who was of noble birth, settled here in the C6th and built a small cell (clas) next to a holy well and began to preach and baptise. Gradually a monastic settlement grew up here and its fame spread. It became very prosperous with two fine carved stone crosses, but it was looted and destroyed by the Vikings in the C10th.
The present stone built Abbey Church dates from the C12th and is regarded as the finest and most complete examples of a church of this period in Gwynedd.
In the early C13th, the Celtic community was reorganised under the Augustinian Rule and the refectory and dormitory buildings were added. The priory was dissolved in 1538 and became the property of the Bulkeleys of Beaumaris, who lived in the prior’s lodging. They enclosed much of the land as a deer park with a tall stone wall round it and built the dovecot. The priory church remained in use as the parish church.
The prior’s lodging is now a private house, but there is access to the church, the ruins of the monastic buildings, St Seiriol's well and the dovecote.
The dovecote is a massive stone building with massive domed roof with a cupola at the top. It was built by the Bulkeleys in 1600 and could house nearly 1,000 birds. Entry is through a tiny door with a step down. The inside is lined with nest boxes. The central pillar is thought to have provided support for the ladder needed to access the nest boxes. The doves could fly in and out of the cupola.
St Seiriol's well is reached by a path from the car park, past the monastic fish pond. The stone foundations by the well building were probably a monastic cell used by St Seiriol.
The brick and stone shelter is early C18th. It is approached along a rough path with stone steps. It is surrounded by a stone wall and reached along a rough path with stones forming small steps. The well was reputed to be a healing well as also provided fresh water for the monastery.
Inside, the lower part of the well chamber surrounded by flat stones may date back to early Christian times. There are stone benches and recesses in the walls where offerings could be left. The well was reputed to be a healing well as also provided fresh water for the monastery.
The C13th south range below the church is now a roofless shell but contains a tall inscribed stone cross.
This contained the domestic areas. On the ground floor were cellars and storage areas. On the first floor was the refectory, reached by an outside stair. It would have had a door into the cloisters which were at a higher level than the present road. Above would have been the dormitory. To the right is a later C16th building with a fireplace which may have been the private apartment for a senior member of the monastic community.
Last edited by a moderator: