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Tintern Abbey, Monmouthshire

Tintern Abbey is a beautiful ruined abbey beside the river Wye in Monmouthshire. Many web sites and guidebooks will outline the abbey's history, which actually is something of a nonevent. Tintern Abbey was founded in 1131 by Walter de Clere, lord of nearby Chepstow. It was one of many abbeys established during the reign of Henry I. Tintern then existed quietly as one of the smaller and less important abbeys in Wales. Monastic life was subdued and orderly, and Tintern's history was similarly subdued and orderly, until 3rd of September 1536 when Henry VIII's agents arrived to take over the abbey. In order to obtain a divorce from his first wife Catherine of Aragon Henry needed to get himself away from the authority of an unhelpful pope. This meant switching England's religion from Catholicism to Protestantism. As part of this process all monastic communites in England were dissolved and most of their buildings destroyed. Tintern's monks were ordered to leave, their monastery was demolished behind them and left as a ruin.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Over two hundred years later the poet William Wordsworth was to write of his experience of the Wye Valley. He writes from the perspective of an older man remembering a trip in the Wye valley taken in his youth. Wordsworth writes of all the wild ecstasies of his first trip, his joy in the presence of nature and so on. Looking back on this youthful enthusiasm, he almost seems embarrassed by the person he was then. Time calmed Wordsworth, and he feels his memories of Tintern Abbey are better than his actual experience of being there. This is strangely fitting for Tintern Abbey. Time has left Tintern Abbey a lonely ruin. And yet the ruin that remains has a poignancy and significance that goes beyond that of the original rather insignificant abbey.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Address: Tintern Abbey, Tintern, Chepstow, Monmouthshire NP16 6SE

Directions: Tintern Abbey is just off the A466, about five miles north of Chepstow in Monmouthshire. Click here for an interactive map centred on Tintern Abbey.

Opening Times: 1st April to 31st October, open daily 9.30am - 5pm.

1st November to 31st March, Monday to Saturday 9.30am - 4pm, Sunday 11am - 4pm.

Closed 24th to 26th December and 1st January.

Access: Adapted toilet facilities are available. An accessible route plan is provided.

Contact:

telephone: 01291 689251

fax: 01291 689251

web site: http://www.cadw.wales.gov.uk/default.asp?id=6&PlaceID=132

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