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Abbeys in Scotland served as the main
religious centre's for about 1000 years,
the first monastery being established in
563, after Columba traveled to the Isle
of Iona from Ireland. The monastery
Columba founded on Iona, soon became one
of the largest religious centre's in
western Europe. Many of the early Kings
of Scotland were buried at Iona
Abbey.
Christianity was extremely important
for building a nation and uniting its
people. The first king of this region,
Kenneth I
died on the 13th February 858. Kenneth I
was king of the Picts,
regarded by many as the first king of
Scots. Kenneth I founded the dynasty that
ruled Scotland for much of the medieval
period.
Many of the Abbey's seen today were
built around the 1100s - 1300s. Most of
these Abbeys had to be rebuilt after
being damaged in the wars with England in
the 1300s.
By the start of the 1500s, the
Catholic Church, centered around the Pope
in Rome, was being accused of being
corrupt, so countries throughout Europe
began calling for reforms with a
breakaway religion under the name
Protestantism. In 1525, the Scottish
Parliament banned the import of books
written by the German Martin Luther, the
founder of Protestantism.
Henry VIII (King of England) adopted
Protestantism in the early 1530s so he
could re-marry, and claim most of the
money that was being sent from England to
the Pope in Rome. He was excommunicated
by the Roman Church at that time.
In August 1560, the Scottish
Parliament passed a series of Acts to
dismantle the Catholic Church in
Scotland. At that time, celebrating mass,
and communicating with the Pope in Rome,
was made illegal.
Monks and Abbots were mainly allowed
to live out their lives in the Abbeys. A
Commendator appointed by the Crown, was
based at each abbey to oversee the land
and property. Most Abbeys had vast
amounts of land and great wealth.
Most Abbeys in Scotland were
abandoned, or slowly fell into disrepair
after this time. Much of the stonework
was then carried off for the building of
other properties, such as castles, houses
and farms.
Click on the PostCodes for Maps and
Reviews.
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Cambuskenneth Abbey / 1 mile east
of Stirling
Cambuskenneth Abbey was founded around
1140 by canons of the Arrouaisian order,
but subsequently passed to the
Augustinians. The founder was David I.
Cambuskenneth served Stirling Castle, one
of David’s favoured residences,
which lay a short distance to the west.
The abbey was the scene of Robert
Bruce’s parliament in 1326, and the
burial place of James III and his queen,
Margaret of Denmark, in the 1480s.
Postcode: FK9
5NB.
www.historic-scotland.gov.uk
www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/stirling/cambuskenneth
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Dunfermline Abbey & Palace
/Dunfermline by Edinburgh
Dunfermline Abbey has a history
stretching back to the 11th century
– the time of King Malcolm III and
Queen Margaret. In the 12th century,
their son, David I, raised the little
priory to the lofty status of abbey. He
endowed it richly, and brought
stonemasons from Durham Cathedral to help
build it. The great nave still stands
largely complete, the most visually
stunning example of Romanesque
architecture in Scotland. The abbey
church is also famous as the mausoleum of
some of Scotland’s great kings and
queens. They include Queen Margaret
(later canonised as St Margaret), David I
and King Robert Bruce. Postcode: KY12
7PE.
www.historic-scotland.gov.uk
http://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/dunfermline/abbeypalace
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Glenluce Abbey / Glenluce 10 miles
east of Stranraer
Glenluce Abbey was founded in about 1192
by Roland, Lord of Galloway. He asked
Cistercian monks from Dundrennan Abbey
near Kirkcudbright to set up a
daughter-house here. The end of
Glenluce's active life as a monastery
came with the Reformation in 1560. The
monks who accepted the new doctrines were
allowed to live out their days in the
abbey, the last one dying in 1602.
Reviews.
www.historic-scotland.gov.uk
www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/glenluce/glenluceabbey
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Inchmahome Priory / on Inchmahome
Island/ Lake of Menteith/ 16 miles west
of Stirling
The priory was founded in 1238 by the
Earl of Menteith named Walter Comyn. The
Comyn family were one of the most
powerful in Scotland with a large house
on one of the other islands on the lake.
The priory has a rich history with it
being visited by King Robert the Bruce
three times, and used as a refuge for the
infant Queen Mary after the English
defeated the Scots at the Battle of
Pinkie Cleugh. The battle was an attempt
to preasure Scottish nobles into allowing
Mary to marry the son of Henry VIII of
England. Postcode: FK8
3RA.
www.historic-scotland.gov.uk
www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/aberfoyle/inchmahomepriory/index.html
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Iona Abbey / Isle of Iona off the
Isle of Mull
Iona Abbey is one of Scotland’s
most historic and sacred sites. The abbey
was founded by St Columba and his Irish
followers in AD 563. As a celebrated
focus for Christian pilgrimage, Iona
retains its spiritual atmosphere and
remains an enduring symbol of worship.
Over a century ago, the abbey and
monastic buildings were restored. In
1938, the Iona Community was founded to
continue the tradition of worship in the
abbey through daily services and
teaching. In the Abbey graveyard, many
early Scottish kings and chiefs, as well
as kings from Ireland, Norway and France
are buried. Postcode: PA76
6SQ.
www.historic-scotland.gov.uk
www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/iona/abbey.
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Jedburgh Abbey / south side of
Jedburgh / Borders
Jedburgh Abbey was founded, initially as
a priory, by King David I in 1138. His
intention was partly to demonstrate to
the English that the Scots could build on
a grand scale so close to the often
disputed border between the two
countries. The Abbey was taken over by
King Edward I of England in 1296, on one
of his many trips north. In 1305, another
English army stripped the lead from the
Abbey roofs to help in the construction
of siege engines. Postcode: TD8
6JQ.
www.historic-scotland.gov.uk
www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/jedburgh/jedburghabbey.
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Kelso Abbey / Kelso/ Borders
Built in 1128 and the years following,
Kelso Abbey was one of the finest
examples of Romanesque architecture.
Finally finished, it was dedicated to the
Blessed Virgin and St John in 1243. It
was soon one of the largest and richest
in Scotland. Two kings, James III and
James IV, were crowned in the Abbey, and
Prince Henry, son of David I, was buried
there in 1152. Postcode: TD5
7.
www.historic-scotland.gov.uk
www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/kelso/kelsoabbey.
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Kilwinning Abbey / Kiliwinning/
Ayrshire
Built for Huge de Morville in the 1100s.
The tower completed in 1816 is open to
the public. The Abbey Tower Heritage
Centre is open Mid May until Mid
September, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays
from 1pm - 3pm. Access for visiting
groups outwith these times may be
possible. Phone 01294 551 496 for
details. The abbey situated in Kilwinning
town centre can be easily found as it
rises high above the surrounding
buildings. Postcode: KA13
6.
www.kilwinning.org/abbey/
www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/kilwinning/kilwinningabbey.
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Melrose Abbey /Melrose /
Borders
In 1136, King David I asked Cistercian
monks from Rievaulx Abbey in North
Yorkshire to found an abbey at Melrose.
In 1322 Melrose Abbey and the town were
attacked by the English army of Edward
II. Much of the abbey was destroyed and
many monks were killed. The subsequent
rebuilding was helped greatly by the
generosity of Robert the Bruce. This link
was later formally recognised when
Robert's embalmed heart, encased in lead,
was buried at Melrose Abbey. Postcode:
TD6
9.
www.historic-scotland.gov.uk
www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/melrose/melroseabbey.
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Paisley Abbey /Paisley centre / by
Glasgow
Paisley Abbey's origins date back to 1163
and the signing of a charter by Walter
Fitzalan, the High Steward of Scotland.
Amongst those educated at Paisley Abbey
in the late 1200s was William Wallace. In
the nave, the association with William
Wallace is celebrated by the Wallace
Memorial Window, placed here in 1873.
Also on view is the marble tomb of Robert
III, which commemorates all the Stewarts
buried in the abbey, including Princess
Marjorie. Postcode: PA1
1JG.
www.paisleyabbey.org.uk
www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/paisley/abbey.
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Pluscarden Abbey / Elgin / 38
miles east of Inverness
Pluscarden Priory was founded by King
Alexander II in 1230. From 1345,
Pluscarden came under the control of the
Bishop of Moray from his seat in Elgin
Cathedral. The Bishop caused Alexander
Stewart (son of Robert II) to to be
excommunicated for marital infidelity.
Stewart, better known as the Wolf of
Badenoch, responded by descending on
Moray with an armed band of Highlanders
and burning down Elgin Cathedral, much of
the towns of Elgin and Forres, and
Pluscarden Priory. Restored in the 20th
century and granted the status of an
Abbey. Postcode: IV30.
www.pluscardenabbey.org
www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/elgin/pluscardenabbey.
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Sweetheart Abbey / New Abbey /
five miles south of Dumfries
Lady Devorgilla signed a charter
establishing a new Cistercian abbey here
in memory of her husband, John Balliol,
10 April 1273 (father of the Scottish
King of the same name). Lady Devorgilla's
love for her departed husband extended to
carrying his embalmed heart around with
her in an ivory box with enamelled silver
trimmings. After her death in 1290, she
was buried in the sanctuary of the abbey
church she had founded, and on her
instructions, the casket containing her
husband's heart was buried beside her.
Postcode: DG2
8BU.
www.historic-scotland.gov.uk
www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/newabbey/sweetheartabbey.
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Whithorn Priory /Whithorn / 31
miles southeast of Stranraer
The first church here (or anywhere in
Scotland) was dedicated to St Martin of
Tours by St Ninian around the 390s. On
his death, St Ninian was buried in his
church, and over the following centuries,
Whithorn became the focus for pilgrimage
from across the British Isles and beyond.
In the 700s, Whithorn was a Northumbrian
possession, while by the 900s it had been
settled by the Norse, who continued to
use the area around the church as a
burial ground. The Norse had been ousted
by 1100 with the Bishopric of Whithorn
re-established in 1128. Postcode:
DG8
8PY.
www.whithorn.com
www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/whithorn/whithornpriory.
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