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Melrose Abbey

1146 establishments in Scotland1609 disestablishments in ScotlandBuildings and structures completed in 1146Burial sites of the House of BalliolChristian monasteries established in the 12th century
Cistercian monasteries in ScotlandHistoric Scotland properties in the Scottish BordersMelrose, Scottish BordersMuseums in the Scottish BordersReligious museums in ScotlandReligious organizations established in 1136Ruined abbeys and monasteriesRuined abbeys in the Scottish BordersRuins in the Scottish BordersScheduled Ancient Monuments in the Scottish BordersTourist attractions in the Scottish BordersWars of Scottish Independence
Melrose Abbey from the burial ground geograph.org.uk 781601
Melrose Abbey from the burial ground geograph.org.uk 781601

St Mary's Abbey, Melrose is a partly ruined monastery of the Cistercian order in Melrose, Roxburghshire, in the Scottish Borders. It was founded in 1136 by Cistercian monks at the request of King David I of Scotland and was the chief house of that order in the country until the Reformation. It was headed by the abbot or commendator of Melrose. Today the abbey is maintained by Historic Environment Scotland as a scheduled monument.The east end of the abbey was completed in 1146. Other buildings in the complex were added over the next 50 years. The abbey was built in the Gothic manner and in the form of a St. John's Cross. A considerable portion of the abbey is now in ruins. A structure dating from 1590 is maintained as a museum open to the public. Alexander II and other Scottish kings and nobles are buried at the abbey. A lead container believed to hold the embalmed heart of Robert the Bruce was found in 1921 below the Chapter House site; it was found again in a 1998 excavation and documented in records of his death. The rest of his body is buried in Dunfermline Abbey. The abbey is known for its many carved decorative details, including likenesses of saints, dragons, gargoyles and plants. On one of the abbey's stairways is an inscription by John Morow, a master mason, which says, Be halde to ye hende ("Keep in mind, the end, your salvation"). This has become the motto of the town of Melrose.

Excerpt from the Wikipedia article Melrose Abbey (License: CC BY-SA 3.0, Authors, Images).

Melrose Abbey
Abbey Street,

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Wikipedia: Melrose AbbeyContinue reading on Wikipedia

Geographical coordinates (GPS)

Latitude Longitude
N 55.598888888889 ° E -2.7177777777778 °
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Address

Melrose Abbey

Abbey Street
TD6 9LG
Scotland, United Kingdom
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Melrose Abbey from the burial ground geograph.org.uk 781601
Melrose Abbey from the burial ground geograph.org.uk 781601
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Nearby Places

Eildon Hill
Eildon Hill

Eildon Hill lies just south of Melrose, Scotland in the Scottish Borders, overlooking the town. The name is usually pluralised into "the Eildons" or "Eildon Hills", because of its triple peak. The 422 metres (1,385 ft) high eminence overlooks Teviotdale to the South. The north hilltop (of three peaks) is surrounded by over 5 km (3.1 mi) of ramparts, enclosing an area of about 16 ha (40 acres) in which at least 300 level platforms have been cut into the rock to provide bases for turf or timber-walled houses, forming one of the largest hill forts known in Scotland. A Roman army signalling station was later constructed on the same site as this hill fort.The mid hilltop is the highest, whilst the south hilltop is the lowest. The hills are owned by the Duke of Buccleuch, Scotland's largest private landowner. As with all land in Scotland the public have a right of responsible access to the hills, and there are many paths crossing the area and leading to all three summits.The hills form part of the Eildon and Leaderfoot National Scenic Area, one of forty such areas in Scotland, which have been defined so as to identify areas of exceptional scenery and to ensure its protection from inappropriate development. The areas protected by the national scenic area (NSA) designation are considered to represent the type of scenic beauty "popularly associated with Scotland and for which it is renowned". The Eildon and Leaderfoot NSA covers 3877 ha, and extends to include the town of Melrose, Scott's View and Leaderfoot Viaduct.