Tintern Abbey , Wales

Tintern Abbey was founded by Walter de Clare, Lord of Chepstow in May 1131. It was the second Cistercian colony founded in Britain, and the first in Wales.

The Cistercian monks who lived at Tintern Abbey followed the Rule of St. Benedict. Their "Charter of Love" laid out their basic principles, of obedience, poverty, chastity, silence, prayer, and work. With this austere way of life, the Cistercians were one of the most successful orders in the 12th and 13th centuries.

The present-day remains of Tintern are a mixture of building works covering the period between 1136 and 1536. Very little remains of the first buildings; a few sections of walling are incorporated into later buildings and the two recessed cupboards for books on the east of the cloisters are from this period.

In the reign of King Henry VIII, traditional monastic life in England and Wales was brought to an abrupt end by his policy of establishing total control over the church, in order to take advantage of the considerable wealth of the monasteries. In 1536, Abbot Wyche surrendered Tintern Abbey to the King and ended a way of life which had lasted 400 years. The valuables from the Abbey were sent to the King's treasury. The building was granted to the then-lord of Chepstow, Henry Somerset, 2nd Earl of Worcester. Lead from the roof was sold, and building fell into disrepair.

In 1901 the Abbey was bought by the crown from the Duke of Beaufort for £15,000. It was recognised as a monument of national importance and repair and maintenance works began to be carried out.

The Abbey is one of the most spectacular ruins in the country and inspired the William Wordsworth poem "Lines Composed a Few Miles above Tintern Abbey", Alfred, Lord Tennyson's poem "Tears, Idle Tears", more than one painting by Turner.

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