Crossraguel Abbey facts for kids
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| Monastery information | |
|---|---|
| Order | Cluniac |
| Established | 1260s |
| Disestablished | 1617 |
| Mother house | Paisley Abbey |
| Diocese | Diocese of Glasgow |
| Controlled churches | Dailly; Girvan; Inchmarnock; Kirkudbright-Innertig; Kirkoswald; Straiton |
| People | |
| Founder(s) | Donnchadh, Earl of Carrick |
Crossraguel Abbey is the ruined remains of an old monastery near Maybole, Scotland. Even though it's a ruin, you can still see parts of the original church where the monks prayed. You can also see their cloister, which was a covered walkway, and their dovecot, a tower for pigeons.
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How Crossraguel Abbey Started
Crossraguel Abbey was founded in 1244 by Donnchadh, Earl of Carrick. He first gave land and money to the monks of Paisley Abbey in 1225. The Earl wanted them to build a new monastery.
However, the monks from Paisley only built a small chapel. They kept the rest of the money for themselves! The Earl was not happy about this. He took his complaint to the Bishop of Glasgow. The Bishop agreed with the Earl. He made the Paisley monks build a proper abbey at Crossraguel. He also said some monks from Paisley had to move there.
What's in a Name?
The name Crossraguel comes from an old cross called the Cross of Riaghail. This cross stood on the same spot where the abbey was built.
Crossraguel was a Cluniac abbey. The monks who lived there were part of a group called the Benedictines. People often called them the "Black monks" because of the dark clothes they wore.
History of the Abbey
After the Bishop's decision, the monks at Crossraguel were allowed to choose their own leader, called an abbot. The abbot from Paisley Abbey was not allowed to interfere. He could only visit once a year. All the land Paisley Abbey owned in the area was given to Crossraguel. The Paisley abbot tried to fight this decision in 1265, but he lost.
In 1307, the army of Edward I of England attacked Crossraguel. The abbey was damaged but later rebuilt, even bigger than before. It continued as a monastery until 1560. This was when the Scottish Reformation happened. During this time, many monasteries in Scotland were closed down.
However, the few monks still living at Crossraguel were allowed to stay. They lived there until the last monk died in 1601. Some of the abbey's stones were later used to build other local buildings. But Crossraguel Abbey is still one of the most complete medieval monasteries left in Scotland.
Like Paisley Abbey, Crossraguel was part of the Cluny order. Their goal was to encourage people to go on pilgrimages. Crossraguel was perfectly placed for this. It was halfway between Paisley and Whithorn. Whithorn was a popular pilgrimage site for people visiting the shrine of St Ninian.
Today, Historic Environment Scotland looks after the abbey. It is a protected site and is open for visitors to explore.
Life at the Abbey
Around 1510, the monks at Crossraguel started new projects. With encouragement from King James IV, they began making salt. They did this by boiling seawater in large pans. They also ground charcoal. This charcoal was used to make gunpowder.
In 1570, the Kennedy family, who were powerful local nobles, gained control of the abbey's lands. This led to a long-lasting dispute with Allan Stewart, who was in charge of the abbey at the time. The argument involved several families and continued until at least 1611.
Even though the Protestant Reformation in the 1560s caused many abbeys to be destroyed, Crossraguel was not badly damaged. However, the monks stopped living there before the end of the 1500s.
Visiting Crossraguel Today
When you visit Crossraguel Abbey today, you can see many interesting parts. The original monks' church is still there, along with their cloister and dovecot. You can also see beautiful carvings from the 1400s.
The chapter house is still standing. This was a special room where the monks met. It still has benches for the monks and a special arched seat for the abbot. Visitors can walk around the choir building, which also dates from the 1400s. You can also explore the tower house and the gatehouse. There are even stairs to climb to the top of the gatehouse for a better view!
