The Choir-stalls at the Priory Church of St Mary, Abergavenny

Abstract

The choir-stalls at Abergavenny, Monmouthshire have tended to be overlooked, yet, with those at St David's Cathedral, they are the most impressive in Wales. Although in the Middle Ages the priory was an insignificant alien religious house, the church attracted spectacular patronage most probably from the powerful Herbert family, earls of Pembroke during the 15th century. The collection of tombs in the south choir aisle is internationally famous. Yet the choir-stalls are equally interesting in a British context. The unique stylistic character of the furniture is examined, and an attempt made to pin down its heterogeneous influences. The tricky task of dating the stalls is attempted on stylistic grounds, and with the aid of the tree-ring technique. There is also a discussion of the complicated and highly unusual building chronology. Finally the likely patronage of the monument is hypothesised.