tivy01 Loc: Pershore,Worcestershire,England

Kelso Abbey is a ruined abbey in Kelso, Scottish Borders.

Founded in the 12th century by a community of Tironensian monks first brought to Scotland in the reign of Alexander I.


Kelso abbey was dedicated to the Blessed Virgin and St John in 1243.


Kelso abbey was soon one of the largest and richest in Scotland, having a superb library in medieval times.


Kelso Abbey owned huge estates in the Borders, and the wealth poured in. They had 34 churches under their control, and owned granges, mills, fisheries, salt-works, and breweries.


The abbey's location close to the English border made Kelso an easy target for the armies that fought back and forth across the region during the early 14th century Wars of Independence.


In 1460 King James II died while beseiging Roxburgh Castle, almost within sight of the abbey walls. The king's baby son was baptised James III in a hastily arranged ceremony in the abbey church.


In the 1540s, the abbey sustained major damage in attacks on orders of the English king, Henry VIII.


Then in 1560 the Scottish Reformation effectively ended monastic houses in Scotland.


The remains are so scanty that it is somewhat difficult to get a real sense of just how impressive medieval Kelso Abbey must have been.


This photo always makes me smile.

anotherview Loc: California

Interesting stonework, if nothing else. Thanks for the history, too.

Bob Mevis Loc: Plymouth, Indiana

Awesome series and ruins.

canondave1 Loc: Houston, TX

Great history and your abbey images are wonderful. I have numerous ancestors from this land.

Doddy Loc: Barnard Castle-England

Nice shots and narrative tivy01.

JoAnneK01 Loc: Lahaina, Hawaii

Mahalo for the photos and the history lesson. The abbey definitely looks like it was magnificent in its day. The stonework which is visible today shows just how great she really was. Mahalo for sharing.

Leicaflex Loc: Cymru

J-SPEIGHT Loc: Akron, Ohio

Awesome set of images

Cotondog Loc: Saskatchewan, Canada

Great set of photos, and thanks for the interesting history.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

gsmith051 Loc: Fairfield Glade, TN

Must of been something in its day!
/George

jederick Loc: Northern Utah

Great story and photos documenting the history of this Abbey...many thanks for sharing!!

rmm0605 Loc: Atlanta GA

An absolutely super tour of Kelso. Great photographs there.

Delderby Loc: Derby UK

Great pics of a great Abbey. I'd better visit before the English need a visa.

Mike Schreiner Loc: Kent, WA

Great shots. Back in 1984 I installed a machine in Kelso. I was there for (2) weeks---staying in a hotel right on the banks of the river Tweed---and drove down that street pictured in your first photo daily. Great place, great people. Thanks for the memories. Kent, WA.