Tour
Dryburgh Abbey
Dryburgh,
one of the four great Border abbeys, stands
on a picturesque site alongside the river Tweed near St
Boswell’s. it was the first Scottish home of the White
Canons of the Premonstratensian order, and was
founded in 1150 by Hugh Morville, Constable of
David I.
The
abbey was burned by the English in 1322, 1385,
1461 and 1523, but the ruins are remarkably complete.
Much of the surviving building is dated as l2th—l3th
century.
Etched
into a foundation stone in the ruined
northern wall of the nave is a merelles board, merelles
having been a board game, similar to the modern
noughts and crosses, introduced into England by the
Normans.
The
abbey is most famous as the burial place of
Scotland’s most notable novelist, Sir Walter Scott.
Field Marshal Earl Haig is also buried here. A huge
statue of Sir William Wallace stands above the abbey.
Facilities include a visitor centre.
If
you would like to visit this area as part of a highly personalized
small group tour of my native Scotland please e-mail me:
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to Scottish Castles
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