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Places

Jedburgh Abbey

February 27, 2022 by dpike Leave a Comment

The Scottish Borders was a magnet for monks in medieval times – truly men on a mission. In a region with ancient Christian traditions and lured by the promise of royal patronage they set up four mighty monastic institutions at Jedburgh, Melrose, Drybrough and Kelso.

In the years before he was crowned king of Scotland, David 1 masterminded a plan to set up monastic centres throughout the Borders and was responsible for populating them with colonies of monks from England and the Continent.

Jedburgh Abbey was built from designs inspired by Europe’s finest churches and its roots trace back to 1118 when a group of Augustans from the Abbey of St-Quentin, at Beauvais north of Paris, set out for a new life in the Borders – a sort of early twinning arrangement – and served a royal castle located in the town.

The priory they established was given large bequests of lands and fisheries by David l and duly prospered. The men of the monastic orders were every bit as good at business as they were in upholding the faith.  It was raised to abbey status around 1154.

David’s successor, Malcolm died at Jedburgh Abbey in 1165 and Alexander lll was married there to Yolande of Dreux, another notable French connection.

There is nothing quite like a great ruin for visitor appeal and Jedburgh’s 12th century Abbey ranks alongside the best of them, providing a breathtaking welcome for those arriving in the town from the south.  

Down the centuries, not all visitors were welcome.

As a gateway town to the Borders and Scotland, Jedburgh bore the brunt of many unwelcome visits from invading English armies.

During incursions made in the 1540’s Jedburgh was reduced to ruins by Henry the Eighth’s armies. It was a time that became known as the ‘rough wooing’ resulting from the Scots refusal to ratify the betrothal of the infant Mary Queen of Scots to his son Edward, then at the tender age of seven.  

It was fatally destroyed after a series of major raids from south of the Border in 1523 and 1544. The Protestant Reformation of 1560 led to Jedburgh’s final demise as a monastic institution.

Jedburgh Abbey, however, is still an imposing building. The great abbey church of St Mary the Virgin stands almost entire and the eastern end has Romanesque architecture of the highest quality.

Still used on special occasions it is home to a museum housing historic artifacts from the area and run by Historic Environment Scotland.

Ample free parking is located close to Jedburgh Abbey and free audio tours available to use on-site in English, French, German, Italian and Spanish.

More at www.historicenvironment.scot

Filed Under: Border Towns, Jedburgh, Places

Jedburgh Castle Jail and Museum

February 23, 2022 by dpike Leave a Comment

On a warm sunny day Jedburgh’s Castle Jail is one of the most pleasant looking buildings you could come across….from the outside.

Step across the threshold and you may find that it’s a different story. Here you will find tales of the gallows and and of ghosts – a grisly past and a very spooky present indeed. 

It is reputedly one of the most haunted places in the Borders, where apparitions are seen regularly, including a ghostly piper who walks the parapets, and strange lights appear at night.

The jail’s ghostly goings on have hit the headlines more than once and featured on TV when a team investigating the paranormal paid a visit. Their verdict – a spine chilling experience.

All of which is hardly surprising when you find that the prison was built on Gallows Hill and the site of the original castle, burnt down in 1409 to deny its use to the invading English. Despite its reputation Jedburgh Castle Jail continues to be a popular booking for ghost hunting groups from all over the country.

The castle was built in the 12th century by King David I and King Malcolm IV died there in 1165.

The present day building, a John Howard Reform Jail, went up in 1820 and was a model establishment in its day, though there’s no doubt that you wouldn’t have wanted to do time there.

The interpretation centre that is open to the public today reveals a prison regime that was as harsh as it was bleak.

You can walk through the original cell blocks, meet the inmates, examine the conditions they lived in and follow their stories. Step into one of the cells and just imagine the door being slammed shut and you’ll know what I mean.

The prison was mainly used as a debtors jail but, following longstanding tradition, executions continued to take place and criminals were hung on the gallows.

One such involved Thomas Wilson who was found guilty for the murder of a young shepherd at St Boswells Fair. It later transpired that Thomas was innocent (not the first and certainly not the last) and it may be that his spirit is one of those that roams the building seeking justice.  

Today it’s home to a museum that charts the town’s history and the achievements of its most famous citizens together and plays host to displays and travelling exhibitions.

Admission: Free.

More at… www.liveborders.org.uk/culture/museums/our-museums/jedburgh-castle-jail-and-museum/

Filed Under: Border Towns, Jedburgh, Places

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