Around the Vale of Neath with some interesting and unusual scenes of special interest
Neath Abbey ruins under a dark sky.
Neath Abbey was established in 1129 AD when Sir Richard de Granville gave 8,000 acres of his estate in Glamorgan, Wales to Savigniac monks from western Normandy. The first monks arrived in 1130. Following the assumption of the Savigniac order into the Cistercian order in 1147, Neath Abbey also became a Cistercian house. The abbey was ravaged by the Welsh uprisings of the 13th century, and eventually dissolved by King Henry VIII of England in 1539. At this time, the abbey was turned into a large estate. Sir Philip Hobby was the last occupant of the estate
The remains of Aberpergwm House, January 2006
Aberpergwm House is an abandoned and ruinous country house located in Glynneath, Vale of Neath, within the grounds of the house sits the church of St. Cadoc, which is possibly of late medieval origin,
the present house is a remodelling of an older house known as Neuadd Pergwm, the house came into the ownership of the Williamses of Blaen Baglan in around 1560 It is said that Oliver Cromwell was related, and so the house was saved from pillage during the English Civil War. The Williams family were one of the few Welsh gentry families to remain faithful to the Welsh language.
St.Catwg Church, Cadoxton
The Murder Stone
This stone was erected over the body of Margaret Williams aged 26 a native of Carmarthenshire living in service in this parish who was found dead, with marks of violence upon her person, in a ditch on the marsh below this churchyard on the morning of Sunday the 14th of July 1822.
Although the savage murderer escape for a season the detection of man yet God hath set his mark upon him either for time or eternity and the cry of blood will assuredly pursue him to certain and terrible but righteous JUDGMENT.
