 Sweetheart Abbey
Set against a dramatic backdrop of mountainous granite, the delightful red
sandstone remains of Sweetheart Abbey are a prominent reminder of the
Cistercian's inhabitation of Dumfries and Galloway. Situated at the
bottom of a fertile valley, close to the point where the River Nith
flows into the Solway Firth, this is a most tranquil and appealing spot
even today. In the 13th Century it would have provided the
strict Order of monks with the remoteness they sought from the outside
world, as well as offering them good land for their farming activities.
Founded as a daughter house
of Dundrennan Abbey, this was the last of the 12 Scottish Cistercian monasteries
to be established and was named in honour of the remarkable Lady Devorgilla.
In 1273 she dedicated the Sweetheart Abbey to the memory of her late husband, himself
a founder of Balliol College, Oxford. Known to be have been absolutely
devoted to each other throughout their marriage, John Balliol's widow
needed a constant reminder of her husband even after his death. She had
his heart embalmed and placed in a silver and ivory casket, and this she
carried with her at all times until her own death some 20 years later.
In 1289 Lady Devorgilla was laid to rest, with the casket, in front of
the high altar of the abbey church and the monks paid their own tribute
by naming the abbey 'Sweetheart'. Sadly, the original monument to this
fine lady has long since disappeared but the remains of the 16th
Century effigy of Lady Devorgilla (albeit headless) clasping the casket
to her breast, has been reassembled and placed in the south transept of
the church.
Virtually nothing has survived
of the monastic outbuildings, having suffered the same fate as many other
medieval abbeys and used as a convenient quarry. However, due to the efforts
of a group of late 18th Century local gentlemen who became
concerned that such 'an ornament' in this part of the country should be
preserved, the abbey church has remained substantially complete. Largely built
in the Early English style, much of the church stands as originally constructed,
but some later remodelling work was carried out following fire damage
suffered at the end of the 14th Century. The south transept
is in exceptionally good condition, retaining the stone rib-vaulting in
the chapels, and still showing some of the heraldic shields on the surviving
roof bosses. Although the Cistercian's were well-known for their austere
building style, there are many examples of decorative carvings, beautiful
arcades, and fine bar tracery in the windows at Sweetheart Abbey.
Amidst the wild scenery of
Scotland it is always a delight to seek out some of the country's historical
monuments, and the romantic overtones and warm architecture of Sweetheart
Abbey will not disappoint. The pretty village of New Abbey also offers
the visitor a chance to see an 18th Century working corn mill,
built on the site of an earlier monastic grain mill. |
