Next to the Palace of Holyrood House in Edinburgh sit the whispering historic ruins of Holyrood Abbey which was built by King David I of Scotland in 1128 for the Augustinian Canons. The story goes that King David, while out hunting in the vicinity during
Feast of the Cross ,and after being bucked off his trusty steed, came face to face with a
disgruntled stag. The King noticed a resplendent crucifix between the
stag’s antlers or a Holy Cross projected upon high, just as the stag
backed down.
Before
it went to the English during the battle of Neville’s Cross in 1346,
the church safeguarded a piece of the True Cross, which St. Margaret,
David’s mother, brought from Waltham Abbey. It became referred to as the
Black Rood of Scotland.
Time
went on and Augustinian Canons Regular from Merton Priory frequented
the Abbey. By 1177, the papal legate Vivian congregated here and by
1189, highly important matters were talked about by Scottish nobles and
prelates, some of which involved William the Lion.
Stylistically
speaking, specific parts of the Abbey were crafted by stonemasons in a Romanesque architectural
style, while the remainder of the building is a glistening example of
13th-century Gothic architecture in the looming arches. With this in
mind, major renovations from 1195-1230 saw numerous additions including a
six-bay aisled choir, three-bay transepts with a tower and the nave.
Over
the years, the Abbey hosted many Scottish Parliament meetings, with
Robert the Bruce holding parliament in 1326. It was also linked with
Royalty, with many Kings frequenting the Abbey quarters. The treaty
which ended the First War of Scottish Independence was signed by Robert I
in the King’s Chamber. The Abbey was damaged during various invasions
in the 1500s and after the Scottish Reformation in 1560, it went from
Catholic to Protestant. Due to structural weaknesses, the roof collapsed
in 1768, hence its incomplete state today.
It was a great source of inspiration for artists and
writers, including the revered Romantic composer Felix Mendelssohn.
After all, it contains a history that rivals the rest of Edinburgh
[ https://theculturetrip.com/europe/united-kingdom/scotland/articles/a-brief-history-of-holyrood-abbey-in-edinburgh/]
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