Sweetheart Abbey. Digital image of KB 740

Description Sweetheart Abbey. Digital image of KB 740

Date 1900 to 1930

Collection Collection of photographs by George Chrystal and Francis Maxwell Chrystal, photographers, Edinburgh,

Catalogue Number SC 800174

Category On-line Digital Images

Copy of KB 740

Scope and Content Sweetheart Abbey, Dumfries & Galloway, from east This view from the east, taken in the early 20th century, shows the nave of the abbey church from under the crossing. The tracery of the west window is not original, and probably replaced a lighter form when it became unstable. After the last monks (who had been allowed to remain there) died in about 1600 the abbey fell into decay. The parish church was formed in the refectory, and moved to the side of the nave. In 1779 a group of local gentlemen bought the ruined abbey to save it from demolition. It was repaired in 1862-3, and taken into State care in 1928. It is now in the care of Historic Scotland and is open to the public. Sweetheart Abbey was founded in 1273 by Dervorguilla, the widow of John Balliol of Barnard Castle, as a Cistercian monastery. The church was largely complete by 1389, when Dervorguilla (who died in 1290) was buried in the choir. The building was completed in the late 14th century. Source: RCAHMS contribution to SCRAN.

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/collection/800174

File Format (TIF) Tagged Image File Format bitmap