Meetings & Events: Study Days
BAA Study Day: Abergavenny Priory
The present church of St Mary in Abergavenny survives from a Benedictine Priory which was founded in the early 12th century as a cell to the abbey of St Vincent at Le Mans. It was spared destruction at the Reformation to become the parish church for its local community. It is home to a wealth of fascinating sculpture in wood and alabaster. Rightly famous are its numerous tomb sculptures and the well-preserved choir stalls, both of which will be the focus of the study day. The effigies begin chronologically with the important 14th century wooden image of John Hastings; however, the fame of the Priory’s monuments are predominantly associated with the later alabasters of the Herbert family. The church also houses a fragment from what would have been a large Tree of Jesse.
We will also be visiting the Gunter Mansion, a grade 2* listed town house very close to St Mary’s, which was recently acquired by the Welsh Georgian Trust. It has a particularly fine 17th Century plaster ceiling and a recusant chapel with wall paintings, all in need of much restoration.
Please download flyer for full details.
To apply please e-mail Jana Gajdosova at jg744@cam.ac.uk – by Saturday 30th April. Please state in the email whether you are a member of the BAA or a student. All names will be entered into a ballot for the study day and the successful applicants will be notified on the 4th of May.