In the Papist times the abbey was a place of great pseudo-sanctity, wealth and consequence.

The territory belonging to it was very extensive, comprising, amongst other districts, the vale of Llangollen and the mountain region to the north of it, called the Eglwysig Rocks, which region derived its name Eglwysig, or ecclesiastical, from the circumstance of its pertaining to the abbey of the vale of the cross.
We first reached that part of the building which had once been the church, having previously to pass through a farmyard, in which was abundance of dirt and mire.
The church fronts the west and contains the remains of a noble window, beneath which is a gate, which we found locked.

Passing on we came to that part where the monks had lived, but which now served as a farmhouse; an open doorway exhibited to us an ancient gloomy hall, where was some curious old-fashioned furniture, particularly an ancient rack, in which stood a goodly range of pewter trenchers.

A respectable dame kindly welcomed us and invited us to sit down.

We entered into conversation with her, and asked her name, which she said was Evans.