William de Benin, Thomas Livingston, Donald Campbell
Site
Location
Coupar Angus, Scotland
Visible remains
Only partial remains of the gatehouse
Coupar Angus Abbey was a Cistercian monastery near Coupar Angus, in central Scotland, on the boundary between Angus and Gowrie.
It was founded on the old royal manor of Coupar in 1161 x 1162 with the patronage of Máel Coluim IV ("Malcolm IV"), King of Scots, by Cistercian monks from Melrose Abbey. It became an abbey of medium to large size and wealth and enjoyed more than four centuries of monastic life. In 1559 the abbey was entrusted by Abbot Donald Campbell to his friend Katherine Campbell, Countess of Crawford.[1]
The abbey was turned into a secular lordship for James Elphinstone, by parliament in 1606 and by royal charter in 1607. Today, there are almost no remains of the abbey, much of it being burned by the Protestant reformers. A collection of its charters has survived. There are some remnants of a gatehouse, and some fine fragmentary stonework from the Abbey (notably a number of tombs) are preserved in the parish church, which stands on or near the site of the medieval building. Other fragments are built into walls throughout the modern town.
The original layout of the abbey remains conjectural; a drawing of 1820 held in the National Library of Scotland allegedly showing the plan has been found to be incorrect.[2]
In the 19th century women found the Ley tunnel of Coupar Angus Abbey near the entrance to the churchyard. One went in and was never seen again, however in 1982 a local mason found the entrance again and went in some distance before finding a cave-in. It is said that the tunnel ran a further two and a half miles to a souterrain at Pitcur.[3]
Both the Abbey gatehouse and the Abbey precincts are separately designated as scheduled monuments.[4][5]
^"Campbell, Katherine, countess of Crawford (d. 1578), noblewoman". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/69900. Retrieved 19 March 2021.
^Robinson, David (ed.) (1998) The Cistercian Abbeys of Britain, Batsford
^Holder, Geoff (2007). The Guide to Mysterious Perthshire. Stroud : Tempus. ISBN 978-0-7524-4140-5. p. 50.
Cistercian CouparAngusAbbey was one of Scotland's most important monasteries, founded by Malcolm IV (1153–65) in the 1160s. Of the abbey, only architectural...
of CouparAngus (later Commendator of Coupar) was the head of the monastic community and lands of CouparAngusAbbey, on the boundary between Angus and...
Coupar may refer to CouparAngus, a town in Perth and Kinross, Scotland CouparAngusAbbey Abbot of CouparAngus, the one-time head of the monastic community...
known about his life in Scotland, he was involved in the affairs of CouparAngusAbbey, while much of his Irish activity coincided with and supported the...
today Site Record for CouparAngus, Queen Street, Abbey Church CouparAngus Church; Parish Church Of CouparAngus; CouparAngusAbbey Details The Cistercians...
to Melrose Abbey and an acre of land in Stinchandhaven to CouparAngusAbbey. He died 5 November 1215 and was interred at Melrose Abbey. William, married...
doubt that wolves inhabited the area at one time. The monks of nearby CouparAngusAbbey, who formerly owned the land, stipulated in certain mid-16th-century...
now by-passed, which has a historic hotel, first run by monks from CouparAngusAbbey to provide shelter and hospitality for travellers, hence the name...
Sacrist of Rievaulx. Holmcultram & Kinloss abbeys founded during abbacy; died 3 August 1159 CouparAngusAbbey founded; resigned, April 1170. Elected Bishop...
Columba.: 28 In the 19th century some women found the secret tunnel of CouparAngusAbbey near the entrance to the churchyard. One went in and was never seen...
Durham collected a contribution of £124-10s-8d in August 1564 from CouparAngusAbbey towards the expenses of a hunting trip to Glen Tilt, where her father...
In August 1564 Durham took up a contribution of £124-10s-8d from CouparAngusAbbey towards the expenses of the queen's hunting trip in Atholl and Glen...
been called the "Garden of Scotland". Coupar, the location of CouparAngusAbbey, lay at the borders of Angus with Gowrie, originally on the Gowrie side...
before 1187, William II de Haya granted the lands of Ederpolls to CouparAngusAbbey for the benefit of the souls of King Malcolm; his uncle Ranulf de...
January 2021. Brown, Graham (20 November 2019). "Community use ambition for Angus kirk resting place of Admiral Duncan". The Courier. Retrieved 28 January...
of Cairnbeg in Fordoun, was involved as collector of the thirds of CouparAngusAbbey, and chamberlain of Badenoch. George Wishart collected a few payments...
charter issued by James IV to the Earl of Angus in 1510. "Carnussie" farm is recorded in the Balmerino Abbey register of c. 1575, which states that it...
privileges. CouparAngusAbbey and William Hay of Errol gave, "through fear" it was said by his grandson, the church of Errol in Gowrie; CouparAngus had been...
bronze objects. It is thought that around 1243 a cell of monks from CouparAngusAbbey inhabited the Inch and that The Chapel of the Holy Trinity and several...
role is unclear and aside from some appearances in the charters of CouparAngusAbbey, his name is largely absent from the evidence. He appears for the...
complex Roman military site SM1601 CouparAngusAbbey gatehouse CouparAngus Ruined gatehouse to medieval Cistercian abbey SM1629 Black Castle of Moulin Moulin...
of Newbattle" (deputy Abbot of Newbattle) and elected to be Abbot of CouparAngus. According to Alexander Myln's 16th century Vitae Dunkeldensis ecclesiae...
income from Clement's diocese – namely CouparAngusAbbey, Lindores Abbey, Cambuskenneth Abbey, Arbroath Abbey, the nunnery of North Berwick and the Hospital...
few years of the 14th century Thomas witnessed three charters of CouparAngusAbbey in the company of Robert Wishart, Bishop of Glasgow, a known opponent...
Nicholas' last appearance in the records was witnessing a charter of CouparAngusAbbey at Arbroath on 8 February 1319: his death therefore fell between these...
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