St Mary's Abbey in Melrose, Roxburghshire, is a partly ruined monastery of the Cistercian order. 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.

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Founded: 1136
Category: Religious sites in United Kingdom

Rating

4.5/5 (based on Google user reviews)

User Reviews

Kate Fi (3 months ago)
The Abbey had scaffolding up so we didn’t get the full experience unfortunately. Reasonably priced and well maintained. Clean toilets and a lovely museum adjacent to the Abbey. Nice small shop too. We spent a lovely hour or so here.
Maria (3 months ago)
Great place to spend a couple of hrs. Unfortunately we could only visit the museum and the grounds due to the ongoing renovation but still worth a visit on a sunny day. We had a little walk about then settled in a tucked-away corner bench for a picnic and also played a round of Snakes and Ladders.
John Webb (4 months ago)
Melrose and the Abbey are two great places to visit. Lovely walks around the town and river which also boasts a few good cafes/coffee shops. Cheap parking.
ann cowperthwaite (4 months ago)
Entrance found through small gift shop. Concessions available for seniors. Pleasant walk around the grounds. Plenty information available. Ongoing restoration work is being carried out which prevents visitors from accessing the inside of the building. However it's good to think it will enable the continued life of the building. We managed to find the pipe playing pig. Visited the on site Musuem
Mi G (MG) (7 months ago)
Title: Disappointing Experience at Melrose Abbey I recently visited Melrose Abbey, and unfortunately, my experience was a letdown. While the ruins of the abbey are indeed beautiful, I was disappointed to find that the entire site was closed due to reconstruction. Despite paying £3.80, I was unable to enter the abbey and could only view it from the outside - something I could have done for free. I was really looking forward to exploring the abbey's interior and learning more about its history, but the closure meant that I was unable to do so. The exterior views were nice, but it wasn't worth the cost. I left feeling very disappointed and frustrated. Rating: 2/5 stars Price: £3.80 (not worth it) Recommended for: Those who are willing to wait until the reconstruction is complete or who are content with only viewing the exterior. Note: I hope the reconstruction works are completed soon, and the abbey is restored to its former glory. Maybe next time, I'll have a better experience.
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