Cymer Abbey

 ruins, abbey, cultural heritage / national heritage, Order of Cistercians, catholicism, scheduled ancient monument

Remains of former Cistercian abbey.
The Cistercian abbey of Cymer was founded in 1198-9 under the patronage of Maredudd ap Cynan, a grandson of Owain Gwynedd. The first monks came from Abbey Cwmhir in Powys, which was a daughter house of Whitland in Dyfed, itself founded by monks from Clairvaux, the mother house in Burgundy.

The monks farmed sheep on the local hills and on lands in Lleyn, and were involved in mining and metallurgy. They also kept a notable stud, rendering high-quality horses to Llywelyn ap Iorwerth. However, it did possess a very large and fine silver gilt chalice and paten, which must have been hidden on the mountainside at the Dissolution. They were rediscovered in the 19th century and are now in the National Museum of Wales in Cardiff.