The massive tower of Kelso Abbey

The west tower crossing of Kelso Abbey features a massive design and solid Romanesque style. This indicates a very large building of formidable, semi-military construction and appearance, reflecting the importance with which Roxburgh was regarded when the abbacy was at the height of its power.

Founded in 1128 by Tironensian monks from France, the abbey sat in a strategic spot overlooking the confluence of the Tweed and Teviot waters. It grew incredibly wealthy, with much of its income coming from vast estates in the Border country. Throughout the Wars of Scottish Independence, the nearby Roxburgh Castle and Berwick upon Tweed were frequently under English occupation. Whenever the abbey was subject to attack, the damage was repaired by the monks, who defended their Scottish identity.

By the 1540s, the building sustained major damage in attacks perpetrated under the orders of King Henry VIII during the Rough Wooing. Plans were even prepared by an Italian military engineer to convert the Abbey into a bastion fort. While Mary of Guise sent building lime to the site in 1554, the Scottish Reformation in 1560 brought monastic disestablishment. After further attacks and damage, the abbey was declared officially derelict in 1587.

Today, the west tower and part of the infirmary are the only remains standing. The structure remains a sturdy witness to a time when the abbey was a seat of a pre-eminently powerful abbacy in the heart of the Scottish Borders.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons