The abbey lay within the diocese of St Asaph, and the abbey church was dedicated to the Virgin Mary. It was founded in 1170 by Owain Cyfeiliog Prince of Powys, as a daughter house of the Abbey at Whitland. Within two years the Abbey had moved a short distance to the present site but excavations have found no evidence of any early structures before construction in stone started in 1190 so it is likely the earliest buildings were simple wooden structures.
The abbey was located within the diocese of St Asaph and its church was dedicated to the Virgin Mary. Founded by Owain Cyfeiliog, Prince of Powys, in 1170 as a daughter house of the Abbey at Whitland, it relocated nearby after two years but no evidence of early structures has been found before stone construction began in 1190, indicating that the earliest buildings were probably simple wooden ones.