History of The Abbey
The abbey was founded by Ranulph de Mortimer and his son, Hugh de Mortimer in 1179 in the parish of Leintwardine. The construction of the abbey was also assisted by other local landowners including Brian de Brampton, who contributed building materials from his woods and quarries. At the time it was the largest monastery in the county, followed by Abbey Dore and Leominster Priory.
The abbey church, like the church at Wigmore, was dedicated to St. James. As they were the principal patrons of the abbey, many members of the Mortimer family were buried there, among them five Earls of March.
The abbey continued to flourish until the period of the dissolution of the monasteries in 1530, when it was destroyed. The remains of the building were given to Sir T. Palmer.
Wigmore Abbey is thought to be the place of origin of a manuscript outlining its own history and founding, as well as the lineage of Roger Mortimer, whose father Edmund petitioned Parliament (successfully) to be named heir to the throne in 1374. His claim was ignored by King Henry IV's succession. The Chronicle of Wigmore Abbey is now housed at the University of Chicago.
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