Tuesday 19 February 2008

Strata Florida Abbey, Wales

Strata Florida Abbey/Abaty Ystrad Fflur
is in the wilds of Ceredigion,
near Pontrhydfendigaid
(try saying that without spitting your fal
se teeth out!!!)

The abbey, built by Cistercian monks,
was visited by Gerald of Wales in 1188

This is a very splendidly carved arch - but
all the carving is on the exterior face,
the interior face is quite plain.





Little remains of the Abbey,
but there is a collection of beautiful floor tiles
housed in this structure,
which gives them some protection from the weather.

Some of the tiles,
made almost 1000 years ago,
are shown below.







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