“How many hearts have here grown cold,
That sleep these mouldering stones among!
How many beads have here been told!
How many matins here been sung!
But here no more soft music floats,
No holy anthems chanted now;
All hush’d, except the ring-dove’s notes,
Low murmuring from yon beachen bough.”
The Abbey of Llan Egwest, or Valle Crucis, so called from a very ancient
inscribed pillar or cross, the mutilated remains of which stand in an
adjacent field, and will next come under consideration, was built and
founded by Madog Ap Gryffydd Maelor, Lord of Dinas Bran, as before
related under the head of Dinas Bran.
This Abbey was built in the year of our Lord 1200, was dedicated to the
Virgin Mary, and belonged to a community of Cistercian Monks, an order
founded in France in the year 1098. The remains of the Abbey Church are
the most picturesque and entire part. It was built in the form of a
cross, which was contrary to the form in common use before the twelfth
century. {60a}
This proves that Madog availed himself of the aid of skilful workmen, and
it is probable that the fraternity called Free Masons were employed, as
they were incorporated about this time, and were the chief undertakers of
such works. Their government was regular, and they were wont to make an
encampment of huts. A surveyor governed in chief; every tenth man being
called a warden, and overlooking nine. They ranged from one country to
another, as they found churches to be built. {60b}
The Church is built in different styles of architecture. The east end
seems the most ancient, and the three lancet-like arched windows have a
very peculiar effect. It is situated at the foot of a lofty hill, called
Fron Fawr, and a little stream runs at the back of the Abbey, skirting
its gardens, and turning a corn-mill in its passage to the Dee. The view
from the high bank beyond the rivulet (which is crossed by a rustic plank
bridge) of the east end of the Church and Abbey, is particularly
beautiful.
On its front or west side rise the Berwyn Mountains; on the east, the
Fron Fawr; and the whole is so enveloped in beautiful foliage that it is
perhaps one of the most enchantingly secluded places in the kingdom. The
west front of the Church affords some admirable specimens of ancient
gothic architecture. The grand entrance has been through the ornamented
pointed arch gateway at the west end; over which is a fine gothic window,
consisting of three lancet-shaped arches, surmounted by a circular or
rose window, of eight divisions; but it is too lofty to admit of close
inspection, as is also the following mutilated inscription, which is
above it:—
AD—ADAM—DMS fecit hoc opus. Pace beata quiescat. Amen.