Europe, British Isles, Monmouthshire South East Wales, Abergavenny [Map]
Abergavenny, Monmouthshire is in Monmouthshire South East Wales.
The River Usk rises at Fan Brycheiniog [Map] after which it flows broadly east through Sennybridge [Map], Brecon [Map], then south-east, under Crickhowell Bridge, Monmouthshire [Map], Abergavenny, Monmouthshire [Map], then under the Chain Bridge [Map] at Kemeys Commander, south through Usk, Monmouthshire [Map], under the bridge at Newbridge-on-Usk [Map], past Caerleon [Map] to Newport, Monmouthshire [Map] where it joins the Severn Estuary.
The Itinerary of Archbishop Baldwin through Wales: Book 1 Chapter 4. A sermon having been delivered at Abergevenni [Map],61 and many persons converted to the cross, a certain nobleman of those parts, named Arthenus, came to the archbishop, who was proceeding towards the castle of Usk, and humbly begged pardon for having neglected to meet him sooner. Being questioned whether he would take the cross, he replied, "That ought not be done without the advice of his friends." The archbishop then asked him, "Are you not going to consult your wife?" To which he modestly answered, with a downcast look, "When the work of a man is to be undertaken, the counsel of a woman ought not to be asked;" and instantly received the cross from the archbishop.
Note 61. Hamelin, son of Dru de Baladun, who came into England with William the Conqueror, was the first lord of Over-Went, and built a castle at Abergavenny, on the same spot where, according to ancient tradition, a giant called Agros had erected a fortress. He died in the reign of William Rufus, and was buried in the priory which he had founded at Abergavenny; having no issue, he gave the aforesaid castle and lands to Brian de Insula, or Brian de Wallingford, his nephew, by his sister Lucia. The enormous excesses mentioned by Giraldus, as having been perpetrated in this part of Wales during his time, seem to allude to a transaction that took place in the castle of Abergavenny, in the year 1176, which is thus related by two historians, Matthew Paris and Hollinshed. "A.D. 1176, The same yeare, William de Breause (age 43) having got a great number of Welshmen into the castle of Abergavennie, under a colourable pretext of communication, proposed this ordinance to be received of them with a corporall oath, 'That no traveller by the waie amongst them should beare any bow, or other unlawful weapon,' which oath, when they refused to take, because they would not stand to that ordinance, he condemned them all to death [See Abergavenny Massacre]. This deceit he used towards them, in revenge of the death of his uncle Henrie of Hereford, whom upon Easter-even before they had through treason murthered, and were now acquited was the like againe." - Hollinshed, tom. ii. p. 95.
On 19 Nov 1200 Bertha de Braose Baroness Beauchamp died at Abergavenny, Monmouthshire [Map].
On 29 Sep 1286 John Hastings 2nd Baron Hastings 14th Baron Bergavenny was born to John Hastings 13th Baron Bergavenny 1st Baron Hastings (age 24) and Isabel Valence Baroness Bergavenny Baroness Hastings at Abergavenny, Monmouthshire [Map].
In 1455 William Herbert was born to Richard Herbert (age 32) and Margaret Jones (age 11) at Abergavenny, Monmouthshire [Map].
In 1471 Edward Neville was born to George Neville 4th and 2nd Baron Bergavenny (age 31) and Margaret Fenne Baroness Bergavenny at Abergavenny, Monmouthshire [Map]. He a great x 3 grandson of King Edward III of England.
Around 1475 Thomas Neville was born to George Neville 4th and 2nd Baron Bergavenny (age 35) and Margaret Fenne Baroness Bergavenny at Abergavenny, Monmouthshire [Map]. He a great x 3 grandson of King Edward III of England.
On 29 Jun 1478 Katherine Howard Baroness Bergavenny (age 64) died at Raby, County Durham. She was buried at Abergavenny, Monmouthshire [Map].
In 1482 Thomas Herbert was born to Richard Herbert (age 40) and Margaret Cradock at Abergavenny, Monmouthshire [Map].
On 17 Dec 1545 Mary Stafford Baroness Bergavenny (age 50) died in Abergavenny, Monmouthshire [Map].
Welsh Border Road describes an unamed Roman Road, and unnumbered by Margery, that went from Caerleon [Map] to Wroxeter, Shropshire [Map], passing through Usk, Monmouthshire [Map], Abergavenny, Monmouthshire [Map], Hereford [Map], Mortimer's Cross, Herefordshire [Map], Wigmore, Herefordshire [Map] and Leintwardine Bridge, Herefordshire [Map] where it crosses the River Teme just after its convergence with the River Clun.
Abergavenny Castle
Around 1087 the first Abergavenny Castle [Map] was commissioned by Hamelin de Balun - motte and bailey.
Around 1100 a stone keep was added to Abergavenny Castle [Map].
Around 25 Dec 1175, Christmas, William de Braose 4th Baron Bramber (age 31) invited the local Welsh nobles to his Christmas court at Abergavenny Castle [Map] as an act of reconciliation. Seisyll ap Dyfnwal Gwent and his elder son Geoffrey Gwent were murdered. William de Braose 4th Baron Bramber (age 31) and his men then rode to Seisyll's home. There his younger son Cadwalladr Gwent (age 7) was murdered and his wife captured.
The Itinerary of Archbishop Baldwin through Wales: Book 1 Chapter 4. From thence59 we proceeded through the narrow, woody tract called the bad pass of Coed Grono, leaving the noble monastery of Lanthoni, inclosed by its mountains, on our left. The castle of Abergevenni [Map] is so called from its situation at the confluence of the river Gevenni with the Usk.
Note 59. The last chapter having been wholly digressive, we must now recur back to Brecknock, or rather, perhaps, to our author's residence at Landeu [Map], where we left him, and from thence accompany him to Abergavenny. It appears that from Landeu [Map] he took the road to Talgarth [Map], a small village a little to the south east of the road leading from Brecknock to Hay; from whence, climbing up a steep ascent, now called Rhiw Cwnstabl [Map], or the Constable's ascent, he crossed the black mountains of Llaneliew to the source of the Gronwy-fawr river, which rises in that eminence, and pursues its rapid course into the Vale of Usk. From thence a rugged and uneven track descends suddenly into a narrow glen, formed by the torrent of the Gronwy, between steep, impending mountains; bleak and barren for the first four or five miles, but afterwards wooded to the very margin of the stream. A high ledge of grassy hills on the left hand, of which the principal is called the Bal, or Y Fal [Map], divides this formidable pass (the "Malus passus" of Giraldus) from the vale of Ewyas, in which stands the noble monastery of Llanthoni, "montibus suis inclusum," encircled by its mountains. The road at length emerging from this deep recess of Coed Grono, or Cwm Gronwy, the vale of the river Gronwy, crosses the river at a place called Pont Escob, or the Bishop's bridge [Map], probably so called from this very circumstance of its having been now passed by the archbishop and his suite, and is continued through the forest of Moel, till it joins the Hereford road, about two miles from Abergavenny. This formidable defile is at least nine miles in length.
Around 1190 Abergavenny Castle [Map] was rebuilt in red sandstone with a curtain wall, five towers and a keep.
On 29 Mar 1252 George Cantilupe 12th Baron Bergavenny was born to William Cantilupe and Eva de Braose (age 25) at Abergavenny Castle [Map].
On 20 Aug 1348 Laurence Hastings 1st Earl Pembroke (age 29) died at Abergavenny Castle [Map]. He was buried at Abergavenny Priory [Map]. His son John Hastings 2nd Earl Pembroke succeeded 2nd Earl Pembroke, 4th Baron Hastings, 15th Baron Bergavenny Feudal Creation.
Norman Castles in Wales include Chepstow Castle [Map], Grosmont Castle [Map], Pembroke Castle [Map], Kidwelly Castle [Map], Haverfordwest Castle [Map], Walwyn's Castle [Map], Cardigan Castle [Map], Tenby Castle [Map], Abergavenny Castle [Map], Monmouth Castle [Map], and Raglan Castle [Map].
Europe, British Isles, Monmouthshire South East Wales, Abergavenny Priory [Map]
Abergavenny Priory [Map] was established under Hamelin de Balun the first Norman holder of the title Lord Abergavenny, which in the 1090s became Baron Bergavenny.
On 20 Aug 1348 Laurence Hastings 1st Earl Pembroke (age 29) died at Abergavenny Castle [Map]. He was buried at Abergavenny Priory [Map]. His son John Hastings 2nd Earl Pembroke succeeded 2nd Earl Pembroke, 4th Baron Hastings, 15th Baron Bergavenny Feudal Creation.
After 26 Jul 1469 Richard Herbert (age 46) was buried at Abergavenny Priory [Map].
Europe, British Isles, Monmouthshire South East Wales, Abergavenny, Coldbrook Park
Around 1423 Richard Herbert was born to William ap Thomas "Blue Knight of Gwent" Herbert (age 43) and Gwladys ferch Dafydd Gam "Star of Abergavenny" Brecon at Coldbrook Park, Abergavenny.
Europe, British Isles, Monmouthshire South East Wales, Abergavenny, Nevill Hall Hospital
On 24 Jan 2010 FitzRoy Somerset 5th Baron Raglan (age 82) died at Nevill Hall Hospital, Abergavenny. His brother Geoffrey Somerset 6th Baron Raglan (age 77) succeeded 6th Baron Raglan.