St. Dogmaels Abbey - Founded between 1113 and 1115 by Robert FitzMartin, a Norman lord of Cemais, and his wife Maud Peverel, the abbey was initially a priory for thirteen monks of the Tironensian Order, a reformed Benedictine group from Tiron in Normandy. In 1120, it was elevated to abbey status with the arrival of thirteen more monks, formalized on September 10, 1121, under Abbot Fulchard. The Tironensians were known for their emphasis on manual labor and craftsmanship, distinguishing them from other monastic orders of the time. The abbey was built on or near the site of Dogfael’s earlier cell, suggesting a continuity of sacred tradition, though the original Celtic monastery had likely been destroyed by Viking raids, possibly in 987 CE.