Cylchgronau Cymru

FIFTH SERIES.—VOL. VI, NO. XXII. APRIL 1889. THE BLACK FRIARS OF CARDIFF: RECENT EXCAVATIONS AND DISCOVERIES. BY THE REV. JOHN PLACID CONWAY, O.I.S.T.L. (Read at Cowbridge, August 1888.) In the year 1887 steps were taken by the Most Noble the Marquess of Bute for bringing to light the ancient Priory and Church of the Black Friars of Cardiff, of which all traces had disappeared. Report ran that on the west of the Castle there had at one time existed considerable ruins, but these had given place to cot¬ tages existing within recent memory. The site once discovered, Lord Bute pursued assiduously his explora¬ tions until the whole design of the buildings lay ex¬ posed. These have been accurately traced out in the accompanying plans drawn up by Wm. Frame, Esq., architect to his Lordship. This present paper proposes to deal only with the excavations of the Priory, sup¬ plying afterwards the somewhat meagre details of its history. The Priory must have been approached by a bridge over the TafF, beyond the Meskin or western gate of the town. Entering by a porch on the western side, traces of which remain, the visitor finds himself in the west cloister, from which he enters the cloister-garth, of quadrangular shape, measuring approximately 80 by 85 feet. This was invariably the burying-place of the 5th ser., vol. vi. 7