Valle Crucis Abbey is in the Dee valley about north from Llangollen, Denbighshire, in Wales. The crucis in its name refers to the Pillar of Eliseg which stands nearby, which would already have stood for nearly four centuries when the abbey was established in 1201. The new foundation was a Cistercian house, near Welshpool; its patron was Madog ap Gruffydd Maelor, ruler of northern Powys. So that the abbey could enjoy solitude required by the order, the existing settlement of Llangwestl was removed to Stansty, north-west of Wrexham.
