Relics and Royalty at Moved Wigmore Abbey

Relics and Royalty at Moved Wigmore Abbey

Of its five Earls of March buried here, four are named in the chronicles paying tribute to the abbey's significance and its role as keeper of a treasure trove of relics.

Wigmore Abbey, one of England's most moved foundations, lies a mile north of Wigmore village in Herefordshire. Established in 1179 by Ranulph de Mortimer, the abbey dedicated to St James thrived until the Dissolution of the Monasteries in 1530. Notably, Wigmore Abbey experienced its zenith under the guidance of Andrew of St Victor during the mid-12th century. Five Earls of the prominent Mortimer family, including four Earls of March, were laid to rest in this abbey church, similarly dedicated to St James as the one at Wigmore.

According to records, Wigmore Abbey seems to be the birthplace of a manuscript recounting its history and the lineage of Roger Mortimer, whose father Edmund once petitioned Parliament to claim the throne. The manuscript, covering the history of Wigmore Abbey from 1066 to 1377, now resides at the University of Chicago. Regrettably, some parts of another chronicle have been lost.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons

Written by Nicolo Ciampini

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