Pluscarden Abbey, from East

Category

Library Item

Item no

24462

Title

Pluscarden Abbey, from East

Description

The abbey building of the photograph consists of an arched stone front section with a smaller stone building running behind and to either side of the arch. To the rear are what appear to be the ruined remains of a tower, possibly a bell tower. The front section, section to the right and some of the ruined tower, are covered in Ivy. The abbey sits in well-kept grounds with trees and a path running to an arched doorway. A man in a long coat and hat stands next to an archway.

Artist / maker

Valentine, James

Date

1865

Size

11.3 x 17.9 cm

Type

Photograph

Location

Edinburgh and Scottish Collection

Pluscarden Abbey is a medieval monastery which lies to the south west of Elgin, in the Moray region of Scotland. It is the only medieval monastery in Britain which is still being used; today it is the home to a community of Roman Catholic Benedictine monks. The building was established by Alexander II in 1230, as a Valliscaulian priory and it has a colourful history which saw it endure many changes from fire, feuds and many changes in ownership and rule. The order became disestablished in 1587 and fell into disrepair over the years.

In 1948 the priory re-established itself. It was now in the hands of Lord Colum Crichton-Stuart, an MP and the son of John Crichton-Stuart, 3rd Marquess of Bute. The 3rd Marquess of Bute had put in some work to restore the priory but Colum Crichton-Stuart gave the priory and its lands to the Benedictine Prinknash Abbey in 1943 and the restoration work continued on a much greater scale. In 1948 the Prinknash Benedictine community were able to take up residence in the priory and in 1974 the priory achieved abbey status and its independence from Prinknash.

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Related subjects

Homes > Derelict buildings and excavation sites > Disrepair (homes)

Landscape > Landscape architectural facilities > Gardens

Places > Scotland > Moray

Places > United Kingdom > Scotland

Religion > Religious communities > Monasteries

Religion > Religious facilities > Abbeys

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