In the year 1879 the whole of the modern out-buildings in close proximity to the Abbey were demolished, by which a far better view of the ancient structure is now obtained.
Another improvement was commenced in the year 1883—the clearing out of the chapter house, a part neglected and used as a farm house for many generations. These excavations brought to light the bases of the pillars.
There are some fine old trees on the grounds, dating, we should say, three hundred years back, if not more; and hovering always about this hallowed spot will be seen a number of jackdaws, birds proverbially said to have a more than ordinary regard for old ruins, an ascription which may account for the fact that Valle Crucis Abbey is the only place in this part of the country where they make their home.
The following were some of the endowments of the Abbey:—Half the tithes of Wrexham, bestowed on it by Reyner, bishop of St. Asaph, who died in 1224; and the other half by his successor, Bishop Abraham, in 1227. And Howel ap Ednyfed, another bishop, endowed it with those of Llangollen. The monks also obtained the patronage of many other livings, such as Wrexham, Rhiwabon, Chirk, Llansantffraid, and Llandegla; but their title to these, as well as to Llangollen, was disputed by Bishop Anian, commonly known by the name of Y Brawd Du o Nannau, or the Black Brother of the House of Nanney, a dominican consecrated in 1268, who brought his cause before the Pope’s delegate, the official of Canterbury, and the Abbot of Taley, in Carmarthenshire, and obtained a decision in favour of himself and his successors; but as there was some doubt as to the patronage of the church of Llandegla, they allotted in lieu of it to the Abbey a third of the tithes of Bryneglwys. In the year 1291, the abbot was found to have, near the monastery, a grange, with three plough lands, a mill, and other conveniences, valued at £3; the grange of Bodëang, Tregam, Rudrym, and Backeton, set for £5 10s.; the dairy farm of Nant, and the grange of Nystroyz, Convereth, and Grenny-champt, set for £3 19s. 8d.; also the grange of Wyrcesham, consisting of one plough land and some pasture, valued at 15s., and thirty cows at the expense of 30s.
The freemen of Llangollen made a grant of a fishery to the monks, in a part of the Dee near the town, and, for want of a seal of their own, they affixed to their grant that of Madoc, the founder of the Abbey. The monks soon afterwards erected new works on the river, for the purpose of taking the fish; this caused a dispute between them and the freemen; and these last referred the matter for decision to the abbot and five monks of their own choice, who were to determine the matter upon oath. Madoc and his secretary, John Parvus, appointed a day for the purpose; the assembly was held, the oaths solemnly administered, and the abbot and monks made the decision (as might have been expected), in their own favour. They alleged they had bought the right of erecting what works they pleased, and of repairing them, from the heirs of Llangollen. Madoc confirmed the decree, and the donation of a fishery, by an instrument dated 1234.
The revenues of the monastery at the time of its dissolution, in 1535, were £188 per annum according to Dugdale, but Speed reckons them at £214 3s. 5d. The last abbot was John Hern, who received an annuity of £23 on his surrender. This, together with £10 13s. 4d. to some of the brethren or surviving monks, were the only charges remaining in 1553. It remained in the crown till the 9th of James I., who granted it to Edward Wotton, afterwards created Lord Wotton. In 1654, we find a lady, Margaret Wotton, a recusant, to have been in possession, and that it was put under sequestration by order of the commissioners of the ruling powers. The Abbey now belongs to Rice Thomas, Esq., who is the proprietor of the Trevor Hall Estate, and is under the charge of the Rev. H. T. Owen, by whose kind permission the visitor, on the payment of the small fee of 6d., may inspect the interior.
Through the exertions of the Rev. H. T. Owen, some very interesting excavations have been made of late years. During the summer of 1888, Mr. Owen caused some investigations to be made in the Monks’ Dormitory, for by removing surface earth that accumulated there during the time it had been in ruins, five very interesting sepulchral slabs were discovered of very early date, not later than the tenth century. There is one which has a Norman sword on it, and also an inscription which cannot be deciphered but with some degree of uncertainty. It can be read as follows:—
“Jacet Oidus Madoc . . . Insignis Cele Ominu Crucis,”
which may be translated:—
“Here lies Owi dus Madoc, a distinguished Warrior of the Cross of Heaven.”