After the region around St Davids was firmly occupied by the Norman Marcher lordship of Pembroke by the early 12th century, with St Davids firmly under Norman influence thereafter, the princely Dinefwr family of Deheubarth transferred their patronage to Strata Florida, and interred many of their family members there.

In 1184, a further charter was issued by Lord Rhys, reaffirming Strata Florida as a monastery under the patronage of Deheubarth, a principality of South Wales.

Several descendants of the Lord Rhys have been buried at this Abbey, including 11 princes of the Welsh royal house of Dinefwr of Deheubarth during the 12th and 13th centuries Notable burials include Prince Gruffydd ap Rhys II and poet Dafydd ap Gwilym.

The most important primary historical source for early Welsh history, the Brut y Tywysogion, was compiled at Strata Florida.

In 1401, during the early years of Owain Glyndŵr's rebellion, Strata Florida Abbey was taken by King Henry IV and his son.

Henry IV turned the religious buildings into a military base as he planned to capture or defeat any Welsh rebel forces active in the area.

By 1402 the Earl of Worcester held the Abbey for the English Crown with a garrison of several hundred men-at-arms, archers and foot soldiers.

Beginning in 1539, Henry VIII used his dissatisfaction with the Catholic Church in Rome to dissolve and sack the monasteries of England and Wales.

Much of the former monastic lands of the Cistercian abbey at Strata Florida were given to Thomas Cromwell, 1st Earl of Essex who sold them on to Sir John Vaughan, of Trawsgoed.

About the Abbey the 1851 Illustrated London Reading Book says: The site was designated as a Scheduled Ancient Monument in 1919 and is now in the care of Cadw.

A memorial to the Welsh language poet, Dafydd ap Gwilym, who is interred here is next to an ancient yew tree.

At some point a substantial frontage was built over the original gateway road to create space between the two flanking buildings.