The Abbey

"THE ABBEY", an extra-parochial place, in the hundred of Isaf, union of Llanrwst, in the county of Carnarvon, North Wales, 4 miles S. of Conway. It derives its name from a Cistercian priory founded here in 1185 by Llewelyn-ap-Jorworth, but afterwards removed to Maynan.   [From The National Gazetteer of Great Britain and Ireland (1868)Transcribed by Colin Hinson ©2003]

In 1870-72, John Marius Wilson's Imperial Gazetteer of England and Wales described The Abbey like this: "MAENAN, a township in Eglwysfach  parish, Carnarvon; on the river Conway, 3 miles N of Llanrwst. Acres, 2,902. Real property, £1,845. Pop., 373. Houses, 80. A Cistertian monastery, a cell to Conway abbey, was founded here in 1283, by Edward I.; and was given, at the dissolution, to the Wynnes. The roof of its church was removed to Llanrwst; and only a small fragment now remains."