Abstract/Summary

This thesis presents an assessment of the impact of Norman influence on the Gower region in south Wales. It uses an interdisciplinary approach, due to limited documentary sources for the twelfth century relating to Gower. The main focus of this thesis is the impact of the creation of the lordship of Gower early in the twelfth century, due to Norman expansion into Wales from England. As relatively little is known of Gower during this period, traditional narratives adopted by modern historians have been established in the absence of evidence that assert there was a swift and comprehensive conquest, immediately followed by the widespread building of stone churches and extensive English colonisation. This thesis challenges these narratives, providing a historical framework which represents a fundamental shift in the way in which Gower’s early history is perceived. It argues that far from being swift and comprehensive, it was not until the end of the twelfth century, rather than the beginning, that the situation in Gower resembled the traditional narratives. By using a progressive methodology of exploring Gower in the Early Medieval period, the impact of Norman influence can be assessed far more comprehensively than previous studies. This thesis takes a thematic approach, covering ecclesiastical development, secular power and settlement. Each theme has two chapters, one investigating the development of Gower during the Early Medieval period in relation to the twelfth century and the other assessing the impact of Norman influence. This thesis argues that during the twelfth century, Gower’s historical processes were defined more by continuity, rather than by rapid change.