Holyrood Abbey sits at the far end of the "Royal Mile" and the opposite end of the long road from Edinburgh Castle. Fortunately for royals who had to make the long carriage ride to Holyrood, there was a guest house waiting there also, because for centuries, Holyrood Abbey was the place of worship for Scotland's monarchy.
Legend tells of the miraculous event that saved the life of King David I and the beautiful abbey he built in honor of the event.
As the story goes…… The King was hunting in the royal forest of Drumsheugh when he was thrown from his horse in front of a great white “hart” (stag) and he was speared in the thigh by the antlers of the great beast.
Suddenly, as he fought with the stag, a crucifix or “holy rood” miraculously appeared either in the King’s hands or between the stag’s antlers, startling it and saving the king’s life. In thanks to God, in 1128, King David endowed the “monastery of the Holy Rood” to serve the Augustinian community and built the abbey close to the spot of his deliverance.
This original structure is long gone and only the east processional doorway into the cloister survives from the first church. The church was lavishly rebuilt between 1195 and 1230 and the Parliament of Scotland was held inside.
Even the famous Robert the Bruce held his parliament at the abbey in 1326.
Legend tells of the miraculous event that saved the life of King David I and the beautiful abbey he built in honor of the event.
As the story goes…… The King was hunting in the royal forest of Drumsheugh when he was thrown from his horse in front of a great white “hart” (stag) and he was speared in the thigh by the antlers of the great beast.
Suddenly, as he fought with the stag, a crucifix or “holy rood” miraculously appeared either in the King’s hands or between the stag’s antlers, startling it and saving the king’s life. In thanks to God, in 1128, King David endowed the “monastery of the Holy Rood” to serve the Augustinian community and built the abbey close to the spot of his deliverance.
This original structure is long gone and only the east processional doorway into the cloister survives from the first church. The church was lavishly rebuilt between 1195 and 1230 and the Parliament of Scotland was held inside.
Even the famous Robert the Bruce held his parliament at the abbey in 1326.
The original guest-house for the abbey, eventually (probably by 1329) became a royal residence. Between 1498 and 1501, James IV constructed the royal Palace of Holyrood, adjacent to the abbey cloister. It is strangely crowded right up to the abbey wall. Over centuries, the palace was expanded to become the impressive royal residence you see today.
For generations, Holyrood Abbey was the site of royal coronations, weddings, christenings and funerals, including, the coronation of James II in 1437, Margaret Tudor in 1504, Mary of Guise in 1540, Anne of Denmark in 1590, and
Charles I in 1633.
Charles I in 1633.
The abbey is a graceful example of medieval architecture, and transitions in style from Romanesque to Gothic. The oldest part of what remains of the abbey is the north wall, built before 1200 and characterized by narrow pointy towers and tall single-lancet windows.
The west front was built next with solid square towers and screened windows.
The nave interior was the final element, built around 1230 with arcades, delicate stone tracery on the windows and stone capitals with elaborately carved foliage. This interior is said to be inspired by England's Lincoln Cathedral.
During the War of the Rough Wooing, the invading English armies inflicted structural damage on Holyrood Abbey in 1544 and 1547. The bells were removed, and the contents of the abbey were plundered. A decade later, in 1559, during the Scottish Reformation, the abbey suffered further damage when a mob destroyed the altars and looted the rest of the church
Eventually, the damaged choir and transepts were pulled down and the remaining structure was converted for Protestant use. In 1633, the nave was extensively restored for the coronation of Charles I.
The abbey housed royal tombs until they were desecrated in 1688 during the overthrow of King James II of England (James VII of Scotland). After that the royal tombs were removed and relocated.
Eventually, the damaged choir and transepts were pulled down and the remaining structure was converted for Protestant use. In 1633, the nave was extensively restored for the coronation of Charles I.
The abbey housed royal tombs until they were desecrated in 1688 during the overthrow of King James II of England (James VII of Scotland). After that the royal tombs were removed and relocated.
The church continued to be used by both Protestants and Catholics until 1768, when the vaulted stone roof fell in during a rainstorm. The abbey was left to fall into ruin from that point on.
Hollyrood Abbey’s skeleton is romantic and poetic, creating a space where as you wander through its graceful remains, you can’t help but feel a little sad at its lonely interior, wide open to the wintery sky and populated only by brief secular visits from tourists like me.
Hollyrood Abbey’s skeleton is romantic and poetic, creating a space where as you wander through its graceful remains, you can’t help but feel a little sad at its lonely interior, wide open to the wintery sky and populated only by brief secular visits from tourists like me.
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