Cor Tewdws or Bangor Tewdws (Meaning "college" or "chief university" of Theodosius) was a Celtic monastery and college in what is now Llantwit Major, Glamorgan, Wales. It is believed to have been founded c. 395, making it the oldest established school in Great Britain. Today, the ruins of the monastery and college are believed to be under the St. Illtyd's Church in Llantwit Major. The college was a primary learning center of Sub-Roman Britain (now Wales), but was unfortunately situated in a location on the Glamorgan Plain that exposed it to hostile incursions from Irish pirates, and to Viking raids. The college is said to have been destroyed by the Danes in 987, and by the Normans in the late 11th century. After the Norman sack, many of the college's endowments were transferred to the Abbey of Tewkesbury by Robert Fitzhamon. Cor Tewdws was rebuilt in 1111, but probably on a reduced scale. It also lost its right of sanctuary for a time, before the right was restored by Nicholas, Bishop of Llandaff, in 1150. It was finally dissolved by Henry VIII during the Dissolution of the Monasteries. Historical Sources That the college existed as early as 450 AD is quite probable, given its prominence in contemporary 5th and 6th century written sources, such as the Life of Sampson and portions of the Book of Llandaff. However, many of the details concerning the founding the monastery and college are to be found in the Iolo MSS, compiled by the discredited Iolo Morganwg, who is believed to have forged much of his source material. The information in his Iolo MSS concerning Cor Tewdws is highly suspect, and has been discounted by historians on several points.
Côr Tewdws or Bangor Tewdws (Meaning "college" or "chief university" of Theodosius) was a Celtic monastery and college in what is now Llantwit Major, Glamorgan, Wales. It is believed to have been founded c. 395, making it the oldest established school in Great Britain. Today, the ruins of the monastery and college are believed to be under the St. Illtyd's Church in Llantwit Major. The college was a primary learning center of Sub-Roman Britain (now Wales), but was unfortunately situated in a location on the Glamorgan Plain that exposed it to hostile incursions from Irish pirates, and to Viking raids. The college is said to have been destroyed by the Danes in 987, and by the Normans in the late 11th century. After the Norman sack, many of the college's endowments were transferred to the Abbey of Tewkesbury by Robert Fitzhamon. Côr Tewdws was rebuilt in 1111, but probably on a reduced scale. It also lost its right of sanctuary for a time, before the right was restored by Nicholas, Bishop of Llandaff, in 1150. It was finally dissolved by Henry VIII during the Dissolution of the Monasteries. Historical Sources That the college existed as early as 450 AD is quite probable, given its prominence in contemporary 5th and 6th century written sources, such as the Life of Sampson and portions of the Book of Llandaff. However, many of the details concerning the founding the monastery and college are to be found in the Iolo MSS, compiled by the discredited Iolo Morganwg, who is believed to have forged much of his source material. The information in his Iolo MSS concerning Côr Tewdws is highly suspect, and has been discounted by historians on several points.
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