DRYBURGH ABBEY
In this parish lie the ruins of that ancient and far-famed monastic establishment. Dryburgh is often called the "queen of Scottish abbeys," enjoying the calm solitude of undisturbed repose far from the busy haunts of men. Nestled amid the shadowy woods on the left bank of the Tweed— which sweeps majestically around it on three sides— the site is picturesque and serene.
Nature seems to have overtaken the ruins, with ivy clinging to the crumbling walls, and spruce and holly flourishing amidst the rubble. Even from the upper sections of the building, trees have sprung and reached significant growth.
The abbey was founded in 1150 by Hugo de Morville.* Earlier, around the 6th century, a monastery existed here, with St. Modan serving as its abbot in 552. The name "Dryburgh" suggests that a Druidical site may have preceded the abbey. Despite its current ruined state, the abbey’s grey stone towers evoke solemn grandeur, standing as a relic of a bygone era.
Upon entering at the northeast corner, the high altar is seen on the left, where monks and abbots once knelt in reverence. The distance from the high altar to the west door spans approximately 230 feet, encompassing the choir and nave. Beyond the west door, heading south, one encounters three dungeons— small, damp, and dim, typical of such places. Each measures about 30 feet long, 12 feet wide, and 9 feet high.
Adjoining the dungeons is the cloister courtyard, an elegant space adorned with finely carved masonry. The courtyard measures about 100 feet square and is arranged as a verdant lawn. To the southwest corner of the cloisters are the old wine and almonry cellars, above which lies the refectory or great dining room. The walls of this grand hall— once measuring 100 feet long, 30 feet wide, and 60 feet high— are now largely gone.
Proceeding eastward leads to the library, then the abbot's parlour, and finally the chapter house. This chamber, 47 feet long, 23 feet wide, and 20 feet high, is adorned with Early English Gothic windows on the east end and a circular-headed window with smaller flanking windows on the west. The hall is further beautified by a series of intersecting arches.
North of the chapter house lies the family vault of the Haigs of Bemersyde.
HISTORICAL INSCRIPTIONS
A stone built into the chancel wall bears the following inscription:
"Erected to the memory of Hugo de Morville, Lord of
Lauderdale and Lord High Chancellor of Scotland, who founded
and built this abbey under King David I. He died in 1162."
Another nearby stone reads:
"Here lyes Adrian Haig who died being the time of my
Lwdek Powstatic this is the trwth: His espovseric: Margarat
Hwtly sister of the Hwrdlaw 1630.
Dauid Haig died Jwly 4 1752: aged 85 also his spows Agnns
Sciruen who died: Octbr 20 1754 aged 84 years.
Also Here lies Andrew Haig, who died the 29th January 1649."
A separate stone commemorates another Haig family member:
**"Here lies Andrew Haig ... in Dryburgh who died the
1st of December, aged 60 years; also Jane M'Mellan, his wife,
who died the 4th December, aged 70 years; both in the year of
our Lord 1671.
'As Jonathan and Israel’s king
In love did still abide,
So pleasant were this happy pair,
Their death did not divide.' "**
The tomb of Sir Walter Scott bears these simple yet profound words:
"Sir Walter Scott, Baronet. Died September 21, A.D. 1832."
A stone near the bell stairs is engraved with a large cross and these words around the margin:
"Hic Jacit Honorabilis vir Adam Robson de Gleddiswood, qui
obiit vii Octobris, Anno Domine 1555."
The oldest stone with a legible inscription reads:
**"M. Alexander Simpson, secclesae apud Mertonis, obiit 17
Julii 1639.
Whose life and happy death
This sacred stone records,
By Christ’s blessing and passions,
Still resting in the Lord.
His cautious soul’s his triumph,
In Christ is his joy and calling,
In the heavens his soul liveth,
His corps till Christ return remaining."**
On a very small, plain stone:
"Here lyes Jams Waker, sone to the desisd John Waker, who died the 13 of October 1713, and his age..."
On a small, curiously-shaped stone:
"Her lyes Androv Haig who dayed the 20 day Sepm 1679."
On a small, thin stone:
"Here lyes Jams Heag, son to the descised Willeam Heag... J.H. was porchioner in Kedslie... who died the 8 of Janw MDCCXIV and of his..."
On the other side of this stone are rudely sculptured an uncouth figure, hourglass, crossbones, and skull.
On a stone erected to the memory of a son of old "Jamie Barrie," who was custodian of the Wallace monument nearby, is the following inscription written by himself:
"Beneath this stone lies James Barrie,
Whose Bible lov'd to read,
But now in silent tomb does lie,
No farther can proceed."
The termination of the above was considered too abrupt, and the following was added:
"Until last trumpet's awful sound
The rending earth shall shake,
And opening graves shall yield their dust,
And death to life awake.
Aged 25."
The following is a list of the ministers that have been in Mertoun since 1576:
Robert Ker—1576 to 1579.
Robert Rind—1580 to 1581.
James Menzies—1585 to [unknown].
James Smythe, M.A.—1586 to 1592.
John Hepburne, M.A.—1593 to 1596.
Alexander Symsone, M.A.—1597 to 1632.*
James Urquhart, M.A.—1632 to 1635.
Thomas Courtney, M.A.—1640 to [unknown].
James Kirkton, M.A.—1657 to 1662.
Thomas Courtney, M.A. (reinstated)—1663 to [unknown].
James Dunbar, M.A.—1667 to 1675.
Andrew Meldrum, M.A.—1675 to 1690.
James Kirkton, M.A. (reinstated)—1690 (a few months).
John Wallace, M.A.—1692 to 1693.
Robert Liver, M.A.—1697 to 1717.
James Innes, M.A.—1718 to 1767.
John Martin—1768 to 1790.
James Duncan—1790 to 1845.
John Grieve—1845 to 1860.
William M'Lean—1860 to 1864.
Alexander M'Laren—1864 to 1891.
Andrew Thomson Donald (present incumbent)—1892.
*Note: Symsone, when preaching in Edinburgh on July 22, 1621, "spared neither king, bishop, nor minister, and found fault with the watchmen of both countries for not admonishing the king to forbear his oaths and omitting to put him in mind of the breach of Covenant," for which he was apprehended the following day and confined to Dumbarton, being ordained to live at his own expense. He was soon released but confined to his own parish. "He knew and cared little about earthly things but was unwearied in prayer and constantly occupied with the Bible. He died June 17, 1639."—Scott's Fasti Ecclesiae Scoticanae.