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Home » Contributors » Brecon Cathedral Heritage Centre

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  • This alms dish was found in a Brecon antique shop during the 1870s. It is believed to have had some connection with the Priory at Brecon and dates from before the sixteenth century. The purchaser gave it to Brecon Cathedral in 1922.
Brecon Priory: alms dish (pre-1500)
  • This shoe (a later reproduction) is similar to the type of shoe made by the shoemakers or cordwainers (corvisors) of Brecon during the Middle Ages. During the Middle Ages, each trade had its own 'guild' or association of craftsmen not unlike today's trade unions. These guilds regulated prices, wages and working conditions within their respective trades. The Guild of Cordwainers flourished at Brecon during the reigns of Edward I and II and a charter granted during the reign of Philip and Mary gave them monopoly rights to sell shoes, boots and buskins in Brecon Market. During the reign of Henry V, Brecon cordwainers were also recruited by Sir Dafydd Gam as archers to fight in the Battle of Agincourt (1415). The Cordwainers also had close links with Brecon Cathedral. The Cordwainers, the Skinners (leather workers), the Tuckers (fullers) and the Weavers all had their guild chapels in the aisles of the Priory Church, separated from the nave by wooden screens. Until 1995 a modern Guild of Cordwainers made a frequent pilgrimage to its ancient chapel in the Cathedral. Source: Brecon Cathedral Heritage Centre
Shoe similar to those made at Brecon by Guild of Cordwainers
  • This shoe (a later reproduction) is similar to the type of shoe made by the shoemakers or cordwainers (corvisors) of Brecon during the Middle Ages. During the Middle Ages, each trade had its own 'guild' or association of craftsmen not unlike today's trade unions. These guilds regulated prices, wages and working conditions within their respective trades. The Guild of Cordwainers flourished at Brecon during the reigns of Edward I and II and a charter granted during the reign Philip and Mary gave them monopoly rights to sell shoes, boots and buskins in Brecon Market. During the reign of Henry V, Brecon cordwainers were also recruited by Sir Dafydd Gam as archers to fight in the Battle of Agincourt (1415). The Cordwainers also had close links with Brecon Cathedral. The Cordwainers, the Skinners (leather workers), the Tuckers (fullers) and the Weavers all had their guild chapels in the aisles of the Priory Church, separated from the nave by wooden screens. Until 1995 a modern Guild of Cordwainers made a frequent pilgrimage to its ancient chapel in the Cathedral. Source: Brecon Cathedral Heritage Centre
Shoe similar to those made at Brecon by Guild of Cordwainers
  • This is the only remaining figure from a tomb which was erected in the chancel of Brecon Cathedral c. 1555. The 'Games Monument' was erected in memory of the Games familiy of Aberbran and their wives. The other figures are reputed to have been burned by Cromwell's soldiers during the Civil War. The effigy represents either Anne, daughter of Sir William Vaughan of Porthaml, Miss Bodenham of Rotherwas or Miss Morgan of Pen-y-Crug, the wives respectively of John, William and Thomas Games. The 'Games' family were descended from Dafydd Gam, a Welsh soldier killed at the battle of Agincourt in 1415. He was one of those killed on the English side but not, according to popular legend, before he had saved the life of Henry V and been knighted on the field. His reputation as a warrior in the King's cause was also one of the reasons for Owain Glyn Dwr's failure to win the allegiance of parts of south-east Wales. According to tradition, Dafydd Gam sought to assassinate Owain in 1404. In 1410, or later, Dafydd fell into Owain's hands and was ransomed by the Seneschal of Brecon. He was called 'Dafydd Gam' ('Crooked Dafydd') because he squinted or had only one eye.
Brecon Cathedral: Games Monument c. 1555
  • This remarkable cresset stone was found many years ago lying neglected in a garden in Pendre, Brecon, and was returned to the Priory Church at Brecon after restoration. There is evidence to show that it formerly belonged to the Priory Church, whence it was removed some sixty years ago. The word 'cresset' is derived from the old French 'craicet', 'craisset' or 'cresset', a cup of metal or other material fastened to a pole to form a portable lantern. A 'cresset stone' was a flat stone with cup-shaped hollows, each being used to hold a quantity of tallow and a wick, which were burned to produce light. These were lit in the Church at midnight, when the Monks came to mattins. It was also common to find such stones near doorways or corners where people had to frequently pass each other, and in the Monks' Dorter. This was a common method of lighting churches in medieval times. Although there are some thirteen cresset stones remaining in various parts of England, the Brecon cresset stone is the only one so far known in Wales, and is the finest yet discovered. It is rectangular in form, measures 23.5 inches x 21 inches, and is 6 inches thick. It has thirty cups arranged in five parallel rows, with six cups in each row (14 more cups than at Carlisle Cathedral, where the largest cresset stone previously discovered is located) and with the diameter and depth of each cup being about 3 inches. It is of native stone, which has laminated in two places, probably as a result of blows. Source: Brecon Cathedral Heritage Centre
Brecon Cathedral: medieval cresset stone