Cardiff Records, Volume II, Chapter I
NOTES ON THE MANORS OF THE CARDIFF DISTRICT

Transcribed by Kevin H. Sewell 1995
email: pat.sewell@btopenworld.com
www: http://www.btinternet.com/~pat.sewell/

Last Modified: 3 November 1995

Note: Cartae = G. T. Clark's "Cartae et alia munimenta quae ad Dominium de Glamorgan pertinent"

THE CARDIFF FRIARS

The estates of the Friars, whether Franciscan, Dominican or Carmelite, do not appear to have been called manors; but as the name of "Friars," or "White Friars," has been connected with that of the manor properly called "Kibbor and Cardiff," it may be well to give some facts with respect to them.

With regard to the White or Carmelite Friars, it is stated in Dugdale's Monasticon (1846 edition, VIII. 1582), that there is "said to have been" a house of White Friars at Cardiff; adding, "It was probably destroyed by Owen Glyndowr."

It would seem clear that the White Friars' house at Cardiff had disappeared before the dissolution of the monasteries in the time of Henry VIII.

The house of the Black Friars, Dominicans, or Friars Preachers, was between the Castle and the river Taff. It was acquired by Sir William Herbert, grandson of Sir George Herbert, and again sold by him between 1570 and 1586. The site now belongs to the Marquess of Bute.

The Grey Friars, Franciscans, or Friars Minors, had their house at Crockherbtown, south of what is not Cathays Park.

Sir George Herbert acquired this site, and from him it passed to his grandson Sir William; who built the mansion known as the Friars, the ruins of which yet remain.

The Herberts acquired also the Margam Abbey manor of "Kibbor and Cardiff;" and the fact of their mansion house being situate on the land of the Friars may probably account for the manor in later days being called "Kibbor and Cardiff, otherwise Friars," and more recently "White Friars and Kibbor."

It is more curious, however, that the name "White Friars" was frequently used, apparently by mistake, and was applied to the house which was in fact built on the site of the Grey Friars.

The Herberts of "Cardiff Friars," or of "White Friars," who are referred to in the Cardiff Parish Registers and other documents, were really of the Grey Friars - or rather the house built by Sir William Herbert on the site of the Grey Friars.

1649. "William Herbert, of Cardiff Friers," is mentioned in the Parish Registers of Saint John Baptist, Cardiff; and the Herberts were living at the "Friars" down to about 1730, as appears from the same registers. The Grey Friars house is in ruins; of the Black Friars only the foundations remain, in the grounds just west of the Castle. The sites belong to Lord Bute.