Documents preserved at
Gloucester Cathedral state that
Chertsey Abbey misappropriated, and was later compelled to yield up, the Church of the Holy Trinity at Cardigan which had been granted to
Gloucester by
Gilbert de Clare previous to the establishment of the
priory. The
Brut y Tywysogion states that De Clare granted Cardigan Priory to the
Gloucester Abbey prior to his death in or before 1117. Around 1164,
Rhys ap Gruffydd, Prince of
South Wales, conquered Cardigan and brought it again under Welsh rule, and by a grant confirmed the gift of the then existing priory of Cardigan to the
Benedictines of
Chertsey Abbey in Surrey. During the Clares' time, it was dedicated to the Trinity; in Rhys's time, it was dedicated to St. Mary. and granted to
Bisham,
Berkshire, and subsequently to William and Mary Cavendish (1539/40). In the mid 17th century Cardigan Priory was the favoured home of
Katherine Philips, known as "The Matchless Orinda". ==Grounds==