| Having
already encountered several major set backs during their building
of it in the first 50 years, the monks suffered
a disastrous one soon after when fire caused much damage to the
abbey church.
Barely had the community recovered from that disaster than
the monastery was further destroyed during Edward " Longshank's
" - Edward I's campaign against Llywelyn ap Gruffudd.
It
was the Abbott from Valle Crucis who, while out walking early
one morning, met Owain Glyndwr on the leeward side of the Berwyn
mountains. “You are abroad early my lord Abbott” said
Owain.“It is you dear Owain that is to early, a hundred years
to early” the Abbott replied; for the Abbott had the gift
of foresight and had seen that had Owain been born a hundred years
later he would have through his battles gained a secure future
for Wales. For then with his skill of arms he would have defeated
the weaker more un organized king, who would be sat on the English
throne. As it was Owain would be master of Wales for a few short
years, and like those who had led Wales previously he too would
lose against those who would be able to draw upon greater resources
of men and materials.
In the early 14th century the monks at Valle Crucis were allowed
to settle into a relatively peaceful period, and a major programme
of repairs and new building was undertaken to complete the abbey.
The peace did not last long and, before the end of the century,
yet more fire damage was sustained as a result of my people attempting
to throw off the yoke of suppression under the leadership of Owain
Glyndwr
Although able to enjoy something of a revival during the last
100 years of its life Valle Crucis was another abbey that suffered
from the wrath of Henry VIII's disagreement with Rome, and gradually
after the dissolution of the monasteries, it fell into steady
decline
Finally as a monastery, Valle Crucis Abbey earned a reputation
for its appreciation of the literary arts. In 1535, despite documents
recording the life of the abbey being in a very poor state of
decay, it was ranked as one of the richest Cistercian monasteries
in Wales, second only to Tintern. This prolonged the inevitable
fate of the abbey's Dissolution until January 1537 |
