Tintern Abbey

 

Making ones way to the south west frequently takes you to where the England and Wales borders intermingle so having got close to Bristol, South Gloucestershire we went on the Welsh side of the Wye Valley as a driving and food break was needed.

We decided to go to Tintern Abbey (Welsh: Abaty Tyndyrn) was founded on 9 May 1131 by Walter de Clare, Lord of Chepstow along the Abergavveny road in Monmonthshire which like many was "desolved" by King Henry VIII and used by suppers as a place or just building materials.

There was extensive renervationwork on it as it wasn't until the eighteenth century that any meaningful restoration was done and indeed during the Georgian and Victorian eras it more remodelling with new materials so some of the original features were lost that today we would not of accepted.

The abbey provided for a kitchen, an  area for washing clothes and other linens, accomodation and reflection with there being a chapel for worship.

Nearby are the Black Mountains.