Neath Abbey was founded in 1130 by the Norman baron, Richard de Granville, on a rocky terrace overlooking the river marshlands. though originally affiliated to the monastic order of Savigny, Neath, along with the other Savignac houses, became Cistercian in 1147.
The monastery remained Anglo-Norman in its sympathies and frequently suffered from the hostility of the Welsh; there was rivalry too from its Cistercian neighbour at Margam.
During the 15th Century, Neath enjoyed a revival in its fortunes and, at the time of its suppression, was considered to be the "fairest building in all Wales".
