The Normans take over Gwent and HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

1066 and William the Conqueror has taken England and laid waste to Northumbria. He places powerful Lords on the border with Wales as he wants no trouble with them at the moment. These Lords are also a danger to him and fighting the Welsh will keep them busy. In Gwent the petty kings, Aeddan, Griffith, Meredith, all fight against each other and the Normans are able to take the area quite easily. They build castles at Monmouth, Abergavenny, Usk, Chepstow, Llangua,Goldcliff, Skenfrith and Grosmont and with them come the first wave of the building of Priories to administer these castle, providing for the spiritual needs of the Normans and their new people, and a Civil Service for the Norman Lords and Barons, writing their legal documents , collecting tithes etc, but also providing social services for the local people. Of course some were better than others. Chepstow (featuring on http://maryinmonmouth.blogspot.com this week ) or Striguil was one of the first Benedictine Priories in Gwent .

The Burning Babe  by St Robert Southwell