Which Burgh Is This?

After leaving Sir Walter Scott’s house, we planned two more stops on our way back to the B&B.  The first was Dryburgh Abbey. The graceful ruins nestle in wooded seclusion beside the River Tweed. The grounds are park-like, and incredibly peaceful.  Although there wasn’t a lot to see, we all felt this was the most beautiful setting we’d seen thus far.

The abbey was established in 1150 by white-clad Premonstratensian (say that three times!) canons.  All canons are priests; monks may be priests, but it is not their essence.  On the whole, the monastic life was lived out quietly, but war occasionally visited the secluded spot, most famously in 1322, when Edward II’s retreating army, on hearing the abbey’s bells ringing in the distance, turned aside and set fire to the place. That’s what you get for in-your-face bell clanging.  The Protestant Reformation effectively ended Dryburgh Abbey’s days, and by 1584 just two brethren remained alive.  Like I said, there is an atmosphere of peace and tranquility. The church is a fine relic of Gothic architecture, particularly the transepts flanking the presbytery, which were hewn from warm-pink sandstone.

The right picture is the NE pier, and the pillar nearest the camera has the beginning (top) of the arch.  I liked this crusader cross with the sword superimposed on the cross.
A particularly beautiful part of the ruins is the rose window.  Look closely and you can see its sun-image on the grass in front. Amazing something like that survives all these centuries of neglect.
Dryburgh is fairly well known for its delicate carvings, especially this lamb.

All in all, a beautiful, tranquil spot of stone lace.

Another burgh lay ahead, this time called Jedburgh Abbey, an Augustinian abbey founded in 1138.  Unfortunately, it closed just as we got there, but we could get a good view of its exterior walls from an adjacent car park.  The sun kept playing games with us, going in and out of clouds.  But it stayed out long enough to grab this shot and provide some nice light.

Finally, something for the geologist in the family, Mike.  I’m sure he already knows who James Hutton is, but this is where it all took place.