Talley

Title

Talley

Also Known As

Abaty Talyllychau, Tallach, Tallagh, Tallaghan, Tallesch, Tally, Taluesleluiensis, Talyllychau, Thaleken, Thalesleu, Thalestem

Dates

Founded 1180s; dissolved 1536

Dedication

John the Baptist, Mary

Affiliation

Amiens; Welbeck from 1285; Halesowen from ca. 1414

Medieval Diocese

St David's

Circary

Mid England

History

Talley was founded ca. 1185 by Rhys ap Gruffydd, prince of Deheubarth, and continued to be patronised by his family. It was the only Premonstratensian house in Wales. The abbey was damaged by warfare in the 1270s and 1410s.

Talley was suppressed in 1536. Today the site is public property.

Heads of Community

Abbots

Iorweth (or Gervasius), ?-1215
Gruffydd (or Griffin), bef. 1229-ca. 1239
E., fl. 1281
Simon, fl. 1284
David I, fl. 1336
Rhys I ap Dafydd, fl. 1343/44
Thomas of Pagham, fl. 1347
Rhys II ap Jevan, fl. 1381-1383
William, 1397-1399
Morgan I, ca. 1409-ca.1426
David II ap Yevan, fl. 1430
Ludovicus, fl. 1435
Morgan II, fl. 1468
David III, ca. 1473-1493
David IV ap Jevan, ca. 1504-1519
Roderick (or Retherie) Jones (or ap John), by 1522-1536

Status

Abbey

Archival Sources

Aberystwyth, National Library Wales

Edwinsford Estate Records, 430 (1495; later copy)

Cardiff, National Museum Cardiff

35.303/1 (seal matrix)

92.119H/2 (seal impression)

Kew, The National Archives

E 179/21/1 (14th c.)

E 179/21/16 (14th c.)

SC 6/HENVIII/4898 (1530s)

SC 6/HENVIII/4899 (1538-40)

SC 6/HENVIII/4900 (1539-41)

SC 6/HENVIII/4901 (1540s) 

SC 6/HENVIII/4902 (1540s)

SC 8/328/E874 (ca. 1300)

Norwich, Norwich Castle Museum and Art Gallery

NWHCM : 1894.76.201 (seal matrix)

Bibliography

Comisiwn Brenhinol Henebion Cymru, Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales. “Talley Abbey; Abbey Of The Blessed Virgin And St John The Baptist, Talley.” Coflein, 2008. https://coflein.gov.uk/en/site/92750/.

Daniel-Tyssen, J.R. The Royal Charters Relating to the Town and County of Carmarthen and the Abbeys of Talley and Tygwyn-Ar-Daf. Carmarthen: Spurrell, 1878. https://books.google.com/books?id=ug4LAAAAYAAJ.

O’Neil, Bryan Hugh St John. “Talley Abbey, Carmarthenshire.” Archaeologia Cambrensis 96 (1941): 69–91. https://journals.library.wales/view/4718179/4739323/114#?xywh=-1945%2C-226%2C6823%2C4378.

Owen, Edward. “A Contribution to the History of the Premonstratensian Abbey of Talley.” Archaeologia Cambrensis, Fifth Series, 10, no. 37 (1893): 29–47. https://journals.library.wales/view/2919943/3009334/32#?xywh=-1943%2C-200%2C6097%2C3912.

———. “A Contribution to the History of the Premonstratensian Abbey of Talley.” Archaeologia Cambrensis, Fifth Series, 10, no. 37 (1893): 29–47. https://journals.library.wales/view/2919943/3009334/32#?xywh=-1943%2C-200%2C6097%2C3912.

———. “A Contribution to the History of the Premonstratensian Abbey of Talley.” Archaeologia Cambrensis, Fifth Series, 10, no. 38 (April 1893): 120–46. https://journals.library.wales/view/2919943/3009439/27#?xywh=-1943%2C-201%2C6097%2C3912.

———. “A Contribution to the History of the Premonstratensian Abbey of Talley.” Archaeologia Cambrensis, Fifth Series, 10, no. 39 (July 1893): 226–37. https://journals.library.wales/view/2919943/3009550/33#?xywh=-1943%2C-203%2C6097%2C3912.

———. “A Contribution to the History of the Premonstratensian Abbey of Talley.” Archaeologia Cambrensis, Fifth Series, 10, no. 40 (October 1893): 309–25. https://journals.library.wales/view/2919943/3009645/24#?xywh=-1943%2C-198%2C6097%2C3912.

———. “A Contribution to the History of the Premonstratensian Abbey of Talley.” Archaeologia Cambrensis, Fifth Series, 11, no. 41 (1894): 34–50, 92–107. http://europeana-journals.llgc.org.uk/browse/viewpage/llgc-id:2919943/llgc-id:3009803/llgc-id:3009841/get650.

Price, David Long. “Talley Abbey.” Archaeologia Cambrensis, Fourth Series, 10, no. 39 (1879): 161–87. http://europeana-journals.llgc.org.uk/browse/viewpage/llgc-id:2919943/llgc-id:3003931/llgc-id:3003932/get650.

Price, Fred S. History of Talley and Talley Abbey. Swansea: B. Trerise, 1934.

Richards, Melville. “The Carmarthenshire Possessions of Tallyllychau.” In Carmarthenshire Studies: Essays Presented to Major Francis Jones, edited by Trevor Barnes and N. Yates, 110–21. Carmarthen: Dyfed County Council, 1974.

Robinson, David M., and Colin Platt. Strata Florida Abbey, Talley Abbey. Revised Edition. Cardiff: Cadw Welsh Historic Monuments, 1998.

Smith, J. Beverley, and Bryan Hugh St John O’Neill. Talley Abbey, Carmarthenshire. London: Her Majesty’s Stationery Office, 1967.

Williams, Stephen W. “Excavations at Talley Abbey.” Archaeologia Cambrensis, Fifth Series, 14, no. 55 (1897): 229–47. http://europeana-journals.llgc.org.uk/browse/viewpage/llgc-id:2919943/llgc-id:3011372/llgc-id:3011423/get650.

———. “Excavations at Talley Abbey, Carmarthenshire.” Archaeologia Cambrensis, Fifth Series, 9, no. 34 (April 1892): 160–63. https://journals.library.wales/view/2919943/3008969/97#?xywh=-1959%2C-207%2C6097%2C3912.

Image Credit

The ruins of Talley Abbey, 2012. Wikimedia.

Files

Collection

Mid England

Citation

“Talley,” A Premonstratensian Atlas, accessed October 16, 2026, https://yvonneseale.org/atlas/items/show/48.

Geolocation

Item Relations

This Item DependentOn Item: Amiens
This Item DependentOn Item: Welbeck
This Item DependentOn Item: Halesowen
Item: Y Ferwig DependentOn This Item
Item: Llandeilo DependentOn This Item
Item: Llansadwrn DependentOn This Item
Item: Dôl Hywel DependentOn This Item
Item: Llanegwad DependentOn This Item
Item: Penbryn DependentOn This Item
Item: Aberporth DependentOn This Item
Item: Llandyfeisant DependentOn This Item
Item: Llangoedmor DependentOn This Item
Item: Rhuddlan Deifi DependentOn This Item