Sweetheart Abbey

Dumfries, United Kingdom

Sweetheart Abbey was a Cistercian monastery, founded in 1275 by Dervorguilla of Galloway in memory of her husband John de Balliol. His embalmed heart, in a casket of ivory and silver, was buried alongside her when she died; the monks at the Abbey then renamed the Abbey in tribute to her. Their son, also John, became king of Scotland but his reign was tragic and short. The depredations suffered by the Abbey in subsequent periods, have caused both the graves to be lost. The abbey, built in deep-red, local sandstone, was founded as a daughter house to Dundrennan Abbey; this Novum Monasterium (New Monastery), became known as the New Abbey.

The immediate abbey precincts extended to 120,000 m2 and sections of the surrounding wall can still be seen today. The Cistercian order, also known as the White Monks because of the white habit, over which they wore a black scapular or apron, built many great abbeys after their establishment around 1100. Like many of their abbeys, the New Abbey's interests lay not only in prayer and contemplation but in the farming and commercial activity of the area, making it the centre of local life. The abbey ruins dominate the skyline today and one can only imagine how it and the monks would have dominated early medieval life as farmers, agriculturalists, horse and cattle breeders. Surrounded by rich and fertile grazing and arable land, they became increasingly expert and systematic in their farming and breeding methods. Like all Cistercian abbeys, they made their mark, not only on the religious life of the district but on the ways of local farmers and influenced agriculture in the surrounding areas.

The village which stands next to the ruins today, is now known as New Abbey. At the other end of the main street is Monksmill, a corn mill. Although the present buildings date from the late eighteenth century, there was an earlier mill built by and for the monks of the abbey which serviced the surrounding farms.

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Founded: 1273
Category: Religious sites in United Kingdom

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4.4/5 (based on Google user reviews)

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User Reviews

Richard Toulson (4 years ago)
Great parking and a lively and lovely tea room right next door. There was scaffolding up Sept 2020, spoiling photographs and you couldn’t enter the ruins. There is a toilet block in the car park and a couple of pubs in the village.
The Hill-Joneses (4 years ago)
Impressive ruin with free car park and toilets alongside. Scaffolding and fencing currently in place, so views are a little compromised.
Lynne Ford (4 years ago)
Lovely historical romance brilliant interesting grave yard beautiful location lovely village
Paul Blair (4 years ago)
Hidden gem.
richard ellis (4 years ago)
Nice to wander what is still open. Under restorations Called this year (August 2020) and stayed in car park as a stop off for the night in our motorhome. Used the cafe. Excellent food. Toilets all open.
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