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Jedburgh Abbey is in the Borders Town
of Jedburgh, 48 miles southeast of
Edinburgh, 15 miles southeast of Melrose,
10 miles north of the Border with England
at Carter Bar, built from the
1100s for King David I.
The Abbey is open 1 April to 30
September: 9.30am to 5.00pm. 1 October to
31 March: 10am to 4pm. Postcode: TD8
6JQ
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A Priory at Jedburgh was founded in 1118 by
Augustine Monks for Prince David. The Prince
became King of Scotland in 1124 as David I.
David had the Priory enlarged over the years
before raising its status to an Abbey in
1147.
King David I
was the youngest son of Malcolm III by
his wife Margaret of
Wessex, later Saint Margaret. This family,
known as the Canmore's, united a number of
small Scottish Kingdoms into the one Kingdom of
Scotland, with their first large Place of
Worship built by their Castle at Dunfermline in
1070.
The Canmore's used religion to to help
control the entire country. They were Kings of
Scotland from 1058 to 1286, funding the
building of large Abbeys and Cathedrals around
Scotland, such as some of the largest and most
important:
Dunfermline Abbey 1070
Kelso
Abbey - 1128
Melrose Abbey 1136
Jedburgh Abbey 1147
Dryburgh Abbey 1150
St Andrews Cathedral 1158
Arbroath Abbey 1178
Elgin Cathedral
1224
With Jedburgh Abbey being close to the
Border, it was damaged almost every time
Scotland was at war with England.
1296 - at the outbreak of the First War of
Scottish
Independence, Jedburgh Abbey was spared
destruction by the English as the Abbot of
Jedburgh swore loyalty to the mighty King
Edward I of England.
1297 - the forces of William Wallace
defeated the English at the Battle of Stirling
Bridge, leading to the English damaging
Jedburgh Abbey.
1306 - Robert the Bruce became King of
Scotland, leading a campaign over the following
years to remove English forces from Scotland.
The Bruce then had Jedburgh Abbey repaired.
Many minor wars between Scotland and England
over the following 250 years led to Jedburgh
Abbey being damaged and repaired.
1530s - Henry VIII put an end to Catholic
worship in England, destroying many of the
Abbeys.
1544 - Jedburgh Abbey was badly damaged
after King Henry VIII of England sent forces
into Scotland to destroy Abbeys and Castles.
This was an attempt to force the Scots to have
the Infant Mary Queen of Scots married to his
young Son, a War known as the Rough
Wooing.
1560 - the Scottish Parliament ended
Catholic worship in Scotland, leading to many
Cathedrals and Abbey's in Scotland falling into
ruin, with much of their stone taken for
buildings in the towns.
Most Abbey's, and their vast lands, were
then run by a Commendator, allowing the Monks
to live out their lives at the Abbey's.
From this time, Jedburgh Abbey was used as a
Protestant Parish Church.
1622 - Andrew Kerr was
created First Lord of Jedburgh.
1624 - Andrew Kerr died, with him being
buried in the Lothian Isle of Jedburgh Abbey.
Many of his descendants are buried there as
well.
1671 - the Church had to be moved to the
western end of the Abbey as much of the
building was becoming un-safe.
1870 - William Schomberg Robert Kerr,
8th Marquess of Lothian, died, with him being
buried in the Lothian Isle of Jedburgh Abbey,
the largest Tomb as seen right.
1875 - a new Parish Church was built across
the road from the Abbey, allowing Schomberg Kerr,
9th Marquess of Lothian, to start work on
making what was left of the Abbey safe.
1917 - Jedburgh Abbey was handed over to the
State to be run by Historic Environment
Scotland as a Tourist Attraction.
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