Welsh Journals

President: RICHARD HANBURY TENISON Chairman: MARTIN CULLIFORD 8 Pentonville, Newport, Gwent ABERGAVENNY MUSEUM, THE CASTLE, CASTLE STREET, ABERGAVENNY, GWENT. NP7 5EE GWENT LOCAL HISTORY Formerly "Presenting Monmouthshire" No. 78 Editorial: The St. Mary's Monuments Restoration Fund, Abergavenny. Within the Priory Church of St. Mary, Abergavenny, are to be found some of the rarest and most magnificent medieval tombs and effigies in the British Isles. In all, there are ten remarkable carved figures spanning the years from the middle of the 13th century to 1510. The Priory was founded shortly before 1087 by Hamelin de Ballon/the first Norman lord of Abergavenny and for five hundred years has formed an integral part of the town. The great families who held the lordship during the 13th and 14th centuries chose to be buried within the Priory and the names of de Braose, de Cantelupe, de Hastings and Herbert conjure up a vivid picture of the power and prestige of these great feudal dynasties. The oldest effigies are of stone, but there is also a unique 14th century wooden knight, described as "one of the most beautiful pieces of medieval sculpture anywhere in the world". However, the Priory's chief glory is to be found in the Herbert Chapel. Here, three magnificent 15th century alabaster tombs commemorate members of the family so closely associated with Raglan Castle. They include Sir William ap Thomas and his wife, Gwladus Ddu; their son, Sir Richard Herbert of Coldbrook, and grandson, Richard Herbert of Ewias. In 1991, a detailed survey of the tombs revealed that an urgent programme of restoration would have to be undertaken if they were to survive far into the next century. Essentially, all the monuments would have to be dismantled, thoroughly cleaned, stengthened and made impervious to the effects of rising damp. The projected cost of such work is estimated at something over £ 300,000. In November 1991, the St. Mary's Monuments Restoration Fund was established in order to set about raising the necessary money. Secretary: JENNY RENDER (01633) 213229 Editor: FRANK OLDING Spring 1995