Scheduled Monument

Crossraguel AbbeySM90087

Status: Designated

Documents

Where documents include maps, the use of this data is subject to terms and conditions (https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/termsandconditions).

The legal document available for download below constitutes the formal designation of the monument under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979. The additional details provided on this page are provided for information purposes only and do not form part of the designation. Historic Environment Scotland accepts no liability for any loss or damages arising from reliance on any inaccuracies within this additional information.

Summary

Date Added
31/12/1921
Last Date Amended
02/03/2004
Type
Ecclesiastical: abbey
Local Authority
South Ayrshire
Parish
Kirkoswald
NGR
NS 27532 8326
Coordinates
227532, 608326

Description

The monument comprises the extensive remains of the 13th-century Cluniac Abbey of Crossraguel, surviving as substantial stone structures, as earthworks, and as buried archaeology, together with an area likely to contain part of the outer precinct. The reason for this rescheduling is that no adequate documentation can be traced from the time of the original scheduling.

Crossraguel Abbey was founded in the second half of the 13th century as a daughter house of Paisley Abbey. Fragments of a cruciform church of 13th-century date can still be seen, parts of which were incorporated into the later church. The church, and the other primary monastic buildings, were badly damaged during the Wars of Independence. A new simple rectangular church, together with the E and S ranges which enclosed the cloister and the abbot's house, were erected in the 14th century. In the 15th century, the choir was rebuilt with a polygonal E end, while the sacristy and chapter house were entirely rebuilt. The abbey lay within an extensive walled precinct, fragments of which still survive. A new S court was added late on in the history of the monastery, including a row of small houses, where the monks were probably allowed to live individually, contrary to their rule of communal living. The area to be scheduled includes ground to the E, W and S of the claustral core, to include parts of the outer precinct.

The church was again altered in the 16th century, being divided into two parts by a solid wall; the W part becoming the Lady Chapel used by both monks and laity. Here in 1530, Lady Row was buried in a fine tomb beneath an ornate window. Some of the graveslabs, including Lady Row's memorial, have been removed from the church and placed in the E range undercroft; this and another slab have been copied with the casts being replaced in their original position within the church.

In the SE corner of the complex is a tower house, built about 1530, which formed the residence of the last abbots and of the Commendators who succeeded them. The gatehouse SW of the cloisters is also of 16th century date, as is the dovecote. The buildings were partly destroyed by Reformers in 1561, though monks continued in occupation until 1592, and in 1617 the whole benefice was annexed to the bishopric of Dunblane. The Abbey was taken into care in 1913.

The area proposed for scheduling comprises the remains described and an area around them within which related material may be expected to be found. The area proposed for scheduling is larger than that of the property currently in the care of Historic Scotland. The area is irregular in plan with maximum dimensions of 237m NE-SW by 292m WNW-ESE, as marked in red on the accompanying map extract. The modern fences are excluded from the scheduling, as are the upper 300mm of all surfaced paths, roads and the car park.

Statement of National Importance

The monument is of national importance as one of the most complete large monastic complexes to have survived, giving a clear impression of the extent and range of buildings and functions required within such an establishment. The surviving buildings, and associated buried archaeology, have the potential to inform an understanding of the integrated liturgical, domestic and economic functioning of a large medieval religious house. Moreover, Crossraguel has the potential to inform an understanding of the impact of the Wars of Independence on such an institution. When compared to the original layout, the mature form of the plan reflects significant changes in monastic life. The important collection of graveslabs can contribute to an understanding of medieval funerary memorials. The national importance is further underlined by the status of the abbey as a property in the care of Scottish Ministers.

References

Bibliography

RCAHMS records the monument as NS20NE7.

References:

Cowan I B 1986, AYRSHIRE ABBEYS: CROSSRAGUEL AND KILWINNING, Ayr, 267-95.

Cowan I B and Easson D E 1976, MEDIEVAL RELIGIOUS HOUSES, SCOTLAND: WITH AN APPENDIX ON THE HOUSES IN THE ISLE OF MAN, London, 63-4, 2nd ed.

MacGibbon D and Ross T 1896-7, THE ECCLESIASTICAL ARCHITECTURE OF SCOTLAND FROM THE EARLIEST CHRISTIAN TIMES TO THE SEVENTEENTH CENTURY, 3v, Edinburgh, Vol. 2, 402-19.

Historic Environment Scotland Properties

Crossraguel Abbey

https://www.historicenvironment.scot/visit-a-place/places/crossraguel-abbey

Find out more

Related Designations

  1. CROSSRAGUEL ABBEYLB7589

    Designation Type
    Listed Building (A)
    Status
    Removed

About Scheduled Monuments

Historic Environment Scotland is responsible for designating sites and places at the national level. These designations are Scheduled monuments, Listed buildings, Inventory of gardens and designed landscapes and Inventory of historic battlefields.

We make recommendations to the Scottish Government about historic marine protected areas, and the Scottish Ministers decide whether to designate.

Scheduling is the process that identifies, designates and provides statutory protection for monuments and archaeological sites of national importance as set out in the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979.

We schedule sites and monuments that are found to be of national importance using the selection guidance published in Designation Policy and Selection Guidance (2019)

Scheduled monument records provide an indication of the national importance of the scheduled monument which has been identified by the description and map. The description and map (see ‘legal documents’ above) showing the scheduled area is the designation of the monument under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979. The statement of national importance and additional information provided are supplementary and provided for general information purposes only. Historic Environment Scotland accepts no liability for any loss or damages arising from reliance on any inaccuracies within the statement of national importance or additional information. These records are not definitive historical or archaeological accounts or a complete description of the monument(s).

The format of scheduled monument records has changed over time. Earlier records will usually be brief. Some information will not have been recorded and the map will not be to current standards. Even if what is described and what is mapped has changed, the monument is still scheduled.

Scheduled monument consent is required to carry out certain work, including repairs, to scheduled monuments. Applications for scheduled monument consent are made to us. We are happy to discuss your proposals with you before you apply and we do not charge for advice or consent. More information about consent and how to apply for it can be found on our website at www.historicenvironment.scot.

Find out more about scheduling and our other designations at www.historicenvironment.scot/advice-and-support. You can contact us on 0131 668 8914 or at designations@hes.scot.

Images

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Printed: 29/03/2024 15:32