Remains To Be Seen

Neath Abbey

Not much remains of Neath Abbey today. Henry VIII saw to that.

But back in the day it was a sight to behold.

A magnificent building, on a par with the more famous Tintern Abbey located 50 miles away. Both Tintern and Neath were built along very similar lines. Same architecture, same materials, same styles, and of similar size… leading us to believe the same architect and labourers were responsible for both.

Unlike Tintern, Neath Abbey appears to be a completely hidden secret in South Wales. Many local residents don’t know of its charms and very few people appear to visit at all. It’s far from a tourist hotspot.

Our project have revolved around making the site more accessible, more interesting and worth a visit. The Tudors may have dismantled the original abbey only to build a huge mansion right next door, but plenty remains of it to give a glimpse into the past. Large scale representations of Henry VIII with various Cromwells and Seymours set the scene inside the mansion. Detailed illustrations give helpful hints to the visitors into how the rest of the site appeared during the Abbey’s heyday.