Scottish Towns - Melrose Abbey

Scottish

Towns

Melrose Abbey - History

As with most of Scotland's historic structures, particularly those situated close to the border with England, the Cistercian Abbey of Melrose has suffered greatly through the centuries. Today, although the abbey is now a ruin, it is still considered to be one of the most beautiful in the country.

There has been an abbey here since the 7th century, possibly earlier than this. At that period in Scotland's history the abbey at Melrose was inhabited by monks who had originally been on Iona and later the Holy Island (Lindisfarne).
The abbey visitors to Melrose will see today is largely of 15th century construction, the earlier structure having suffered greatly during Scotland's struggle for independence in the 14th century.

It was Robert the Bruce who ordered that the Abbey be brought back to a functioning state but by the end of that century it again was bombarded, this time at the hands of Richard II. The greatest damage however was done by the Earl of Hertford in 1544.
Twenty five years later Melrose Abbey was in the hands of one of Scotland's most powerful families - the Douglases; so powerful at one time that the Stuart throne itself was under threat.

Sir Walter Scott, who had a great love for the Scottish Border country and for Scottish history in general, was appointed Sheriff-Depute of Roxburghshire and as such showed a great interest in Melrose Abbey. In 1822, with the financial assistance of the Duke of Buccleugh, Sir Walter personally supervised the extensive repair work that was to preserve this beautiful abbey for future generations.

In 1918 the then Duke of Buccleugh gifted Melrose Abbey to the nation, since which time it has undergone extensive and sensitive restoration work.

It has always been believed that the heart of Robert the Bruce rests within the walls of Melrose Abbey. It is known that his body rests in Dunfermline Abbey but just before his death, realising that he was dying and would not be able to travel to the Holy Land himself, he asked his friend Sir James Douglas to have his heart cut out and taken there. Sir James followed the Bruce's death bed wish and with his noble friend's heart encased within a casket, he set off for the Holy Land.
Sadly, Sir James died in Spain whilst fighting the Moors so the casket was returned to Scotland and taken to Melrose Abbey.

In 1997 a casket was uncovered from beneath the chapter house floor and was given to Historic Scotland for examination. Investigations revealed that a smaller casket of 14th century origin was encased within the outer one. As there is no comparable DNA with which to compare the contents of the casket it was decided not to open it. During a private ceremony in 1998 the casket was replaced, undisturbed, to rest once more within the now peaceful walls of Melrose Abbey.