MAENAN-ABBEY, or MAENAN-MYNACHDY, an extra-parochial liberty, partly situated locally in the township of ARDDR, parish of
LLAN-REDR, and partly in the township of MAENAN, parish of EGLYS-VION, hundred of LLECHWEDD-ISAV, county of CARNARVON,
NORTH WALES, 3 miles (N.) from Llanrwst: the population is returned with t e respective parishes. It is situated on the
eastern bank of the river Conway, and derives its extra-parochial privileges from having been anciently the site of the
rich abbey of Maenan, said to have been founded by Richard I., but the first authentic notice of which occurs in 1288,
when Edward I., by authority of Pope Nicholas, removed the Cistercian monks of Aberconway to this place, at the same time
confirming to them all the privileges they had enjoyed in their former habitation, and adding considerably to their
possessions. The cause of the change was, that Edward had selected the site of their original house on which to erect the
magnificent castle of Aberconway; and probably being jealous of their communication with his new subjects, their
countrymen, he soon after further removed them to the famous abbey of Vale Royal, in Cheshire. The establishment at
Maenan, nevertheless, continued to flourish until the period of the dissolution, when its revenue was valued at £179. 10.
10. In 1563, the site of the abbey, together with the township of Maenan, was granted to Elizeus Wynne, who took down a
great part of the buildings, and erected a mansion near the spot with the materials. The original edifice was equally
remarkable for the pleasantness of its situation and the beauty of its architecture: a small arch is the only portion of
it now standing. The inhabitant* attend the parish church of Llanddoget, in the county of Denbigh, for the performance of
ecclesiastical rites. Of the rateable annual value of the liberty, the return made amounts to £1436. 5. 2.