c. 75 AD
The Romans maintain a small fort at Abergavenny. They call it Gobannium, which means ‘Place of the Smith’.
1087
Norman overlord Hamelin de Ballon builds Abergavenny Castle to hold his new estates in Wales, and founds St Mary’s Priory as a community of 12 Benedictine monks.
1147
Philip de Braose, uncle of the famous Ogre of Abergavenny, William de Braose, sails for Jerusalem with the Second Crusade.
1175
Conflict between Anglo-Norman nobility and the native Welsh is rife. The then Lord of Abergavenny, William de Braose massacres several Welsh princes at Abergavenny Castle.
1210
William de Braose argues with King John about money and land. He flees to France and his wife and son starve to death in Windsor Castle.
1310-25
Sir John de Hastings, Lord of Abergavenny, extends St Mary’s Priory Church to its present dimensions and builds the Tithe Barn.
1404
Owain Glyndwr’s Welsh nationalist army attacks Abergavenny and attempts to burn the Priory.
1541-2
St Mary’s Priory closes as a result of Henry VIII’s Dissolution of the Monasteries. The site is sold and St Mary’s becomes Abergavenny’s parish church.
1590
The Tithe Barn is partially rebuilt, with the height raised to make it a two storey building.
1645
Abergavenny supports Charles I against the forces of Parliament in the Civil War, and the king stays briefly in the town. Royalist trooper Richard Symonds visits St Mary’s Priory Church.
1660-1820
The Tithe Barn becomes a successful theatre, visited by many illustrious actors and actresses.
1679
The Catholic priest David Lewis of Abergavenny is martyred by the Protestant authorities.
1700s
The roundels, stone shelving and pigeon holes are added to the Tithe Barn.
1800s
The Industrial Revolution brings new industries and prosperity. Abergavenny becomes a centre for Welsh culture.
c.1950
Ye Olde Tythe Barn Discotheque is set up in the Tithe Barn and runs successfully for a number of years.
2002
Restoration work to turn the Tithe Barn into a heritage centre begins.
Come and visit the exhibition to find out more about Abergavenny's fascinating history.