Archaeology Notes

Event ID 682593

Category Descriptive Accounts

Type Archaeology Notes

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/event/682593

NO12NW 9.3 1150 2647.

(NO 1150 2647) Site of Monastery (NR)

OS 6"map, Perthshire, 2nd ed., (1900)

For moulded finial (possibly from Scone Abbey) which is at Waterybutts farmhouse, Errol (NO 2750 2587), see NO22NE 7.02. For fragment of tracery (probably from Scone Abbey) found at Charlestown, Errol (NO 2450 2761), see NO22NW 42.01.

The religious establishment at Scone is said to have been originally occupied by the Culdees, though this cannot be verified ... The exact date of the foundation of the Augustinian priory by Alexander I is in doubt but was probably about 1120 as suggested by Barrow (Barrow 1953) It is probable that Scone was colonised by monks from Nostell, Yorkshire.

The priory became an abbey in December 1164, the previous church probably having been destroyed by fire. In 1559 the abbey was burned to the ground by Reformers. In 1581 it was erected into a temporal lordship.

D E Easson 1957; Barrow 1953.

Scone Abbey was dedicated to the Holy Trinity and Saints Mary, Laurence, Augustine and Michael. The stone of Destiny lay in the Abbey until it was removed by Edward I.

M Walcott 1874

'About 100 yards due east from the south east corner of the house (i.e. the house built about 1604, not the present Scone Palace built 1803-8) are vestiges of the old abbey church.

Between 60 or 70 yards north from this place is what is vulgarly called the Boothill'.

The remains of the abbey church fell about 1624.

'The abbey wall, from the foundations which have been dug up, is supposed to have inclosed a space of 12 acres.'

Statistical Account (OSA, written by R Thomas) 1796.

In 1841, the workmen came upon what may have been the foundations of the monastery. One apartment which seemed to be a sort of cell, was found in pretty good repair. It was surrounded by stone seats about 15 inches broad and might have measured ten to twelve feet.

Near the 'Chanter Gate' are some trees that are said to have stood in the garden of the monastery. Among them were remains of a wall.

NSA (written by J Craik, 1843) 1845.