Scottish Borders, near Melrose

Founded as abbey of St Mary the Virgin by Hugh de Moreville, the king’s constable, lord of Lauderdale, in 1150.  Daughter of Alnwick.  Hugh eventually enrolled as a novice here, and died in 1162;  his son Hugh was involved in the murder of Thomas Becket in 1170.

Took 2 years to construct temporary quarters.  Their first act was to consecrate the cemetery.  

Church built 13th century.  Warming-house fireplace visible.  Dorter standing to full height but roofless.  Refectory built over an undercroft (CLAPHAM)

3rd abbot Adam succeeded in late 1180s, ‘an exemplary religious’.  He became Carthusian and died at Witham in Somerset.

1350 brother Marcus knocked the abbot down with his fist.

Became the premier Premonstratensian house in Scotland, although this was disputed by Soulseat.

Dependencies:  Carrickfergus, founded before 1183, and Drumcross, also in Ireland, founded by 1250.  Both suffered severely during the Scottish attack on Ulster in 1315-7 from which Carrickfergus never recovered

Devastated by fire in 1322 (when dormitory was rebuilt), 1385 (when it was extensively rebuilt) and 1523, due to the passing English armies.  Finally degraded in 1544 and never recovered.

1507 abbot Andrew died, and canons petitioned king to appoint David finlayson as abbot;  this was denied, and the king appointed James Stewart, illegitimate son of Master John Stewart, although he may never have taken up the appointment.  1509, the first commendator, Andrew Forman, took up the appointment but never visited the abber, which was run by the prior.

1522 commendator David Hamilton bishop of Argyll died, and there was war.  Commendatorship went to a minor, John Stewart, who passed it to James Stewart, kinsman, provided he paid John, 2nd son of earl of Lennox a pension.  James died 1541, succeeded by Thomas Erskine, to whom abbey belonged thereafter.