Arbroath Abbey

Arbroath Abbey
Angus
Location
Grid reference:	NO64314132
Location:	56°33’45"N, 2°34’56"W
Order:	Tironensian
History
Founder:	King William the Lion
Information
Condition:	Ruined
Owned by:	Historic Scotland

Arbroath Abbey stands as a distinctive red sandstone ruin at the top of the High Street in the town of Arbroath in Angus.

The Abbey was founded in 1178 by King William the Lion for a group of Tironensian Benedictine monks from Kelso Abbey. It was consecrated in 1197 with a dedication to the deceased St Thomas Becket, whom the king had met at the English court. It was William's only personal foundation, and he was buried before the high altar of the church in 1214.

The last Abbot was Cardinal David Beaton, who in 1522 succeeded his uncle James to become Archbishop of St Andrews.

The Abbey is today cared for by Historic Environment Scotland and is opened to the public throughout the year.

History

Abbey’s seal, depicting the murder of Thomas Becket

King William gave the Abbey independence from its founding abbey, Kelso Abbey, and endowed it generously, including income from 24 parishes, land in every royal burgh and more. The Abbey's monks were allowed to run a market and build a harbour. King John of England gave the Abbey permission to buy and sell goods anywhere in England (except London) toll-free.

The Abbey became the richest in Scotland. It is most famous for its association with the 1320 'Declaration of Arbroath', a letter to the Pope by an assembly of nobles wherein they declared that they would not allow Scotland to be ruled by the King of England. It is believed that the letter was drafted by Abbot Bernard, who was the Chancellor of Scotland under King Robert I.

The Abbey fell into ruin after the Reformation. From 1590 onward, its stones were raided for buildings in the town of Arbroath. This continued until 1815 when steps were taken to preserve the remaining ruins.

Modernity

On Christmas Day 1950, the Stone of Destiny was stolen from Westminster Abbey, and on 11 April 1951, the missing stone was found lying on the site of the Abbey's altar.

Since 1947, a major historical re-enactment has been held by Arbroath Abbey Pageant Society, commemorating the signimng of the Declaration of Arbroath. The pagent, held within the roofless remains of the Abbey church, tells the story of the events which led up to the signing. This is not an annual event.

Architectural description

Arbroath Abbey, showing The Round 'O'

The Abbey was built over some sixty years using local red sandstone, but gives the impression of a single coherent, mainly 'Early English' architectural design, though the round-arched processional doorway in the western front looks back to late Norman or transitional work. The triforium (open arcade) above the door is unique in Scottish mediæval architecture. It is flanked by twin towers decorated with blind arcading. The cruciform church measured 276 feet long by 160 feet wide. What remains of it today are the sacristy, added by Abbot Paniter in the 15th century, the southern transept, which features Scotland's largest lancet windows, part of the choir and presbytery, the southern half of the nave, parts of the western towers and the western doorway.

The church originally had a central tower and (probably) a spire. These would once have been visible from many miles over the surrounding countryside, and no doubt once acted as a sea mark for ships. The soft sandstone of the walls was originally protected by plaster internally and render externally. These coatings are long gone and much of the architectural detail is sadly eroded, though detached fragments found in the ruins during consolidation give an impression of the original refined, rather austere, architectural effect.

The distinctive round window high in the south transept was originally lit up at night as a beacon for mariners. It is known locally as the 'Round O', and from this tradition inhabitants of Arbroath are colloquially known as 'Reid Lichties'.

Little remains of the claustral buildings of the Abbey except for the impressive gatehouse, which stretches between the south-west corner of the church and a defensive tower on the High Street, and the still complete Abbot's House, a building of the 13th, 15th and 16th centuries, which is the best preserved of its type.

The nave

In the summer of 2001, a new visitors' centre was opened to the public beside the Abbey's west front. This red sandstone-clad building, with its distinctive 'wave-shaped' organic roof, planted with sedum, houses displays on the history of the Abbey and some of the best surviving stonework and other relics. The upper storey features a scale model of the Abbey complex, a computer-generated 'fly-through' reconstruction of the church as it was when complete, and a viewing gallery with excellent views of the ruins. The centre won the 2002 Angus Design Award. An archaeological investigation of the site of the visitors' centre before building started revealed the foundations of the mediæval precinct wall, with a gateway, and stonework discarded during manufacture, showing that the area was the site of the masons' yard while the Abbey was being built.

Outside links

• Arbroath Abbey Pageant

References

• Arbroath Abbey and associated buildings, including the Abbot's House - scheduled monument detail (Historic Environment Scotland)