Lincluden Collegiate Church facts for kids

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Lincluden Abbey, around 1890–1900

A view from the south-east, 1923

The tomb of Princess Margaret at Lincluden Collegiate Church

Lincluden Collegiate Church is a beautiful old ruin located near Dumfries, Scotland. It's also known as Lincluden Priory or Lincluden Abbey by local people. This historic building sits by the River Cairn, where it meets the River Nith. Long ago, it was built on the site of an even older castle called Lincluden Castle.

Lincluden was first built around 1160. It was used for many different things over the centuries until it was left empty around 1700. Today, the remaining ruins are protected as a special historic site.

What's in a Name?

The name Lincluden comes from an old language called Brittonic. The second part of the name, Cluden, refers to the nearby Cluden Water river. The first part, Lin, might mean "parish" or "pool," suggesting it was a church near water.

Lincluden's Early Days

How it Started

Lincluden was first set up by a powerful leader named Uhtred of Galloway around 1160. He ruled a region called Galloway with his brother. Before Lincluden, most religious places in Galloway were for monks. Uhtred's new building was special because it was the very first nunnery (a place for nuns) in the area.

The first nuns who lived here probably came from France or England. Later, local women joined them.

The Douglas Family Takes Over

In the late 1300s, a powerful family called the Douglas family took control of the area. Archibald Douglas, 3rd Earl of Douglas, also known as Archibald the Grim, decided to change Lincluden. He asked the nuns to leave.

Earl Archibald then ordered a new church to be built. He turned Lincluden into a "College," which meant it had a main priest called a "Provost" and twelve other priests called "Canons."

The Douglas family spent a lot of money making the church beautiful. You can still see many fancy stone carvings there today. One very important tomb still stands: it belongs to Princess Margaret, who was the daughter of Robert III of Scotland, a Scottish king. She was married to Archibald Douglas, 4th Earl of Douglas.

The buildings were lucky and survived a big change in Scotland called the Reformation in 1560. This was when many churches changed from Catholic to Protestant. The very last Catholic Mass (a church service) was held here on Christmas Day in 1585.

The last Provost left around 1590. After that, the church buildings were turned into a tower house, which is like a strong house. But by the late 1600s, even that was abandoned.

In 1882, the owner of the ruins, Captain Maxwell, had the site cleaned up and fenced off. He even hired a caretaker to look after it. In 1922, the ruins were taken over by the state to be preserved.

Sadly, in recent years, the ruins have faced some damage. In 1999, Princess Margaret's tomb was damaged. To protect it, the original tomb was moved away for safekeeping. A copy made of fiberglass was put in its place so visitors can still see it.

Robert Burns and Lincluden

The famous Scottish poet, Robert Burns, visited Lincluden and was inspired by its beauty. He wrote a song called "The Minstrel of Lincluden" in 1794. Here's the first verse:

As I stood by yon roofless tower, /Where the wa'flow'r scents the dewy air,/Where the howlet mourns in her ivy bower,/And tells the midnight moon her care.

Burns also wrote another song, "Ca' the Yowes to the Knowes'', while at Lincluden. You can find more about it online here.

Yonder Clouden's silent towers,/Where, at moonshine's midnight hours,/O'er the dewy-bending flowers,/Fairies dance sae cheery./Ca' the yowes to the knowes.

Another famous writer, Robert Louis Stevenson, visited Lincluden with his father in September 1873. They were on a walking tour of the area.

Who is Buried Here?

Several important people were buried at Lincluden:

• Uhtred of Galloway (died 1174), who founded the nunnery.
• Archibald Douglas, 3rd Earl of Douglas (died 1400), who founded the collegiate church.
• Princess Margaret (died 1450), daughter of Robert III of Scotland and wife of Archibald Douglas, 4th Earl of Douglas.
• Alexander Carnys or Cairns (died 1422), the second Provost of Lincluden.
• Alexander Couper, a mason, in 1588.