Denbigh Friary (also known as Henllan Friary) ( cy, Brodordy Dinbych) is a ruined

monastic Monasticism (from Ancient Greek , , from , , 'alone'), also referred to as monachism, or monkhood, is a religion, religious way of life in which one renounces world (theology), worldly pursuits to devote oneself fully to spiritual work. Monastic ...

religious house located in Clwyd,

Wales Wales ( cy, Cymru ) is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is bordered by England to the east, the Irish Sea to the north and west, the Celtic Sea to the south west and the Bristol Channel to the south. It had a population in ...

. It is situated in the valley of the

River Clwyd The River Clwyd ( Welsh: ''Afon Clwyd'') is a river in Wales that rises in the Clocaenog Forest () northwest of Corwen. Its total length is . It flows due south until, at Melin-y-wig, it veers north-eastwards, tracking the A494 and passing ...

, approximately east of Denbigh. Founded in 1343-50 (or before 1289), the friary was dedicated to St Mary, and was a Carmelite community. The English

Benedictine , image = Medalla San Benito.PNG , caption = Design on the obverse side of the Saint Benedict Medal , abbreviation = OSB , formation = , motto = (English: 'Pray and Work') , foun ...

abbot Abbot is an ecclesiastical title given to the male head of a monastery in various Western religious traditions, including Christianity. The office may also be given as an honorary title to a clergyman who is not the head of a monastery. The ...

Robert Parfew Robert Parfew (or Robert Warton) (died 22 September 1557) was an English Benedictine abbot, at the time of the dissolution of the monasteries, and bishop successively of St Asaph and Hereford. Life He was probably born in the late years of the ...

was involved in the 18 August 1538 surrender of the Carmelites of Denbigh Friary. During the

Dissolution Dissolution may refer to: Arts and entertainment Books * ''Dissolution'' (''Forgotten Realms'' novel), a 2002 fantasy novel by Richard Lee Byers * ''Dissolution'' (Sansom novel), a 2003 historical novel by C. J. Sansom Music * Dissolution, in mu ...

, some of the buildings were turned into houses, while wool was sold in the church. The 14th century building has been in ruins since an 1898 fire. The ruins are mostly from the 13th and 15th centuries, and include parts of a

choir A choir ( ; also known as a chorale or chorus) is a musical ensemble of singers. Choral music, in turn, is the music written specifically for such an ensemble to perform. Choirs may perform music from the classical music repertoire, which sp ...

, a gable end, and

nave The nave () is the central part of a church, stretching from the (normally western) main entrance or rear wall, to the transepts, or in a church without transepts, to the chancel. When a church contains side aisles, as in a basilica-type ...

walls.

References

External links

{{coord, 53.187839, -3.409053, display=title Ruins in Wales Medieval Wales Christian monasteries established in the 14th century Grade II* listed buildings in Denbighshire Scheduled monuments in Denbighshire