Flaxley iron-works--Erection of the present church in
1856.

The link which connects the Abbey of Flaxley with the Forest of Dean is
chiefly of an antiquarian nature; for instead of being included as
formerly within the limits of the Forest, it is merely approached on one
side by a promontory of Crown land, called "Pope's Hill." The incident
which led to the foundation of the abbey, as related by Leland, who
visited it a short time before it was suppressed, shows the Forest
character of its precincts. He tells us--"ther was a brother of Rogerus
Earl of Hereforde that was kylled wythe an arowe in huntinge in the very
place where the abbay syns was made. There was a table of the matter
hanggid up in the abbay church." The date of its institution is assigned
to the year 1140, or the reign of Stephen, its chief founder being the
aforesaid Roger, aided by a Bishop of Hereford "that holped much to the
buildinge," and who was probably Robert de Betune, by whom the north-west
transept of that cathedral is said to have been erected. They designated
it "the Abbey of St. Mary de Dene, or Dene Abbey," and devoted it to the
use of the White Monks of the Cistertian order. Tintern, the other abbey
of that order, established near the western border of the Forest, was
founded nine years before. The dress of the monks was a white cassock,
with a narrow scapulary; and from this doubtless comes the name of "St.
White's," on Little Dean Hill, in the parish of Flaxley, as well as of
another spot called Whitecross.

The institution of the abbey was confirmed, and its endowment augmented,
by two charters, granted by Henry II., to the following purport:--"Know
ye that I have granted and confirmed to God and St. Mary, and to the
monks of the Cistertian order, a certain place in the valley of Castiard
called Flaxley, to build an abbey there; and all that land called
Wastdean, and one iron forge free and quit, and with as free liberty to
work as any of my forges in demesne; and all the land under the Old
Castle of Dene, with liberty to plough it up, to wit 100 acres, which
remains to be assarted, and that which is already assarted; and a certain
fishery at Redley called Newerre, and a meadow of Reidley called
Pulmeade, containing four acres; and all easements in the Forest of Dean,
to wit, common of pasture for their young cattle and hogs and for all
other beasts, and wood and timber to repair their houses and buildings,
and for other nece