The 'original' eight bells, known as the back 8, were cast in 1755 by William Evans of Chepstow, South Wales, and then transported by barge upstream via the rivers Wye & Lugg.

Discarded animal bones found on the site when submitted to carbon dating showed that the area was occupied in the 7th century.

This agrees with the date of 660 CE associated with the founding myth, which suggests a Christian community was established here by a monk, St. Eadfrith, originally from Lindisfarne in Northumbria.

[4] In the churchyard are graves and memorials of members of the theatrical Kemble family including the grandparents of actress Sarah Siddons.

[6] The earliest known English women doctors, Solicita and Matilda Ford, are known from charters confirming their brother John's grant of land to the priory in the late twelfth century, where they both sign themselves as medica.