Strata Marcella

Strata Marcella Abbey
Commemoration of eighth century of Abbey's foundation
Basic information
Location	Near Welshpool, Powys, Wales
Geographic coordinates	52°41′10″N 3°06′33″W / 52.686119°N 3.109249°W / 52.686119; -3.109249Coordinates: 52°41′10″N 3°06′33″W / 52.686119°N 3.109249°W / 52.686119; -3.109249
Affiliation	Catholicism, Cistercians
Year consecrated	1170
Ecclesiastical or organizational status	Ruin. Abbey dissolved 1536, stone sold to build local churches.
Architectural description
Architect(s)	unknown
Architectural type	Monastery
Architectural style	Cistercian
Specifications
Length	273 feet
Width	96 feet

The Abbey of Strata Marcella (Welsh: Abaty Ystrad Marchell) was a medieval Cistercian monastery situated at Ystrad Marchell (Strata Marcella being the Latinised form of the Welsh name) on the west bank of the River Severn near Welshpool, Powys, Wales.

The abbey lay within the diocese of St Asaph, and the abbey church was dedicated to the Virgin Mary. It was founded in 1170 by Owain Cyfeiliog Prince of Powys, as a daughter house of the Abbey at Whitland. Within two years the Abbey had moved a short distance to the present site but excavations have found no evidence of any early structures before construction in stone started in 1190 so it is likely the earliest building were simple wooden structures. Building work continued until the early 13th century, by which time Strata Marcella had become the largest Cistercian Abbey in Wales. Its nave was 200 feet long. It was monks from Strata Marcella who went to the Vale of Llangollen in 1200 to found the Abbey of Valle Crucis.

Gerald of Wales tells of an abbot Enoc (c. 1190, possibly the founding abbot), who was guilty of misconduct with a nun and abandoned the habit. When advanced in years, Prince Owain retired to the monastery and took the habit of the Cistercian monks. On his death, in 1197, he was buried in the grounds of the abbey. His son Gwenwynwyn (ob. 1216) took over lordship of the abbey and increased its endowments; 45 charters, many from the Wynnstay Estate Archives, survive in the National Library of Wales and elsewhere recording such benefactions to the Abbey, and it became a religious house of wealth and importance. Owain's son Gruffyd ap Gwenwynwyn, lord of Powys, entered a monastery when he was close to death about 1260, but recovered during his stay; it is thought that this abbey was Strata Marcella, which was near his seat at Pool.