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Inchcolm Abbey is a medieval abbey located on the island of Inchcolm in the Firth of Forth in Scotland. The Abbey, which is located at the centre of the island, was founded in the 12th century during the episcopate of Gregoir, Bishop of Dunkeld. Later tradition placed it even earlier, in the reign of King Alexander I of Scotland (1107–24), who had taken shelter on Incholm when his ship was forced ashore during a storm in 1123. It is said he resided there for three days with the Hermit of Incholm.[1]
The Abbey was first used as a priory by Augustinian canons regular, becoming a full abbey in 1235. The island was attacked by the English from 1296 onwards, and the Abbey was abandoned after the Scottish Reformation in 1560. It has since been used for defensive purposes, as it is situated in a strategically important position in the middle of the Firth of Forth. A Latin inscription carved above the Abbey's entrance reads:
Stet domus haec donec fluctus formica marinos ebibat, et totum testudo perambulet orbem
Translated, it has been rendered thus:[2]
"Still may these turrets lift their heads on high,
Nor e’er as crumbling ruins strew the ground,
Until an ant shall drink the ocean dry,
And a slow tortoise travel the world round."
Inchcolm Abbey has the most complete surviving remains of any Scottish monastic house. The cloisters, chapter house, warming house, and refectory are all complete, and most of the remaining claustral buildings survive in a largely complete state. The least well-preserved part of the complex is the monastic church. The ruins are cared for by Historic Environment Scotland, which also maintains a visitor centre near the landing pier (entrance charge; ferry from South Queensferry).
In July 1581 stones from the abbey were taken to Edinburgh to repair the Tolbooth.[3]
Among the Abbots of Inchcolm was the 15th-century chronicler Walter Bower.
^Gordon, J. F. S. (1868). Monasticon. Glasgow. pp. 60–61. Retrieved 12 October 2022.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
^Ross, William (1885). Aberdour and Inchcolme. Edinburgh. p. 69. Retrieved 13 October 2022.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
^James David Marwick, Extracts from the records of the Burgh of Edinburgh: 1557-1571 (Edinburgh, 1875), pp. 210, 212.
InchcolmAbbey is a medieval abbey located on the island of Inchcolm in the Firth of Forth in Scotland. The Abbey, which is located at the centre of the...
military facilities during both World Wars to defend nearby Edinburgh. InchcolmAbbey and the surrounding island are now in the care of Historic Scotland...
carve John Smith's gravestone. Abbot of Iona, for a list of abbots InchcolmAbbey, so-called "Iona of the east" Dunkeld Cathedral, chief centre of the...
1385 – 24 December 1449) was a Scottish canon regular and abbot of InchcolmAbbey in the Firth of Forth, who is noted as a chronicler of his era. He was...
Edinburgh Castle to the Abbey William II (1206) Walter (d. 1217), Prior of InchcolmAbbey abbot from 1209 William III William IV, son of Owen, resigned 1227 to...
north shore of the Firth of Forth, looking south to the island of Inchcolm and its Abbey, and to Leith and Edinburgh beyond. According to the 2011 census...
(possible) Gadvan Preceptory InchcolmAbbey INVERKEITHING (see right) Isle of May Priory Kinghorn Blackfriars (dubious) Lindores Abbey Pittenweem Priory ST ANDREWS...
Forth Bridge InchcolmAbbey Isle of May Kellie Castle Kingsbarns Distillery and Visitor Centre Kirkcaldy Galleries Lindores Abbey Lindores Abbey distillery...
some extravagant ones, like the one made by Walter Bower, abbot of InchcolmAbbey, in his Scotichronicon, in which he argued that the Scots were descended...
Moray, c.1312-1369 Abbot Walter Bower, ca.1385–1449, canon regular of InchcolmAbbey, chronicler, born about at Haddington Sawney Bean, cannibal and outlaw...
The more notable include: Island Davaar Egilsay Eynhallow Holy Island Inchcolm Inch Kenneth Inchmahome (F) Iona Isle Maree North Rona Oronsay Papa Stronsay...
thirteenth century. Dunkeld became a bishopric, and the monks based at InchcolmAbbey became Augustinians. At the beginning of the thirteenth century, the...
Reliquary, although this is now doubted by scholars. In the Antiphoner of InchcolmAbbey, the "Iona of the East" (situated on an island in the Firth of Forth)...
The Abbot of Inchcolm, or until 1235, the Prior of Inchcolm, was the head of the Augustinian monastic community of Inchcolm (Innse Choluim; Latin Insula...
Eyebroughy. A second group lie in the inner Firth of Forth. Inchkeith and Inchcolm are off Kinghorn and Aberdour on the north shore, Inchgarvie lies midway...
The earliest written record of Beath (Beth) was found in a charter of InchcolmAbbey, dated 6 March 1178. This charter makes reference to the Chapel of Beth...
another Alan de Mortimer is recorded granting land to the monks of InchcolmAbbey. There is no record of what happened to the de Mortimers, but in the...
made Commendator of InchcolmAbbey, which is located on an island in the Firth of Forth. Donibristle was then a property of the abbey, and James used it...
unknown. It was during Gilbert's episcopate that Inchcolm Priory was elevated to the status of an abbey. The latter monastic establishment was in the diocese...
In 1265 he used his own wealth to build a new choir in the church of InchcolmAbbey (which was part of the diocese of Dunkeld), and the following year moved...
This list includes the historic houses, castles, abbeys, museums and other buildings and monuments in the care of Historic Environment Scotland (HES)....
Cistercians, the main outward aspects of the Order caused Walter Bower, Abbot of Inchcolm, to have taken the three Valliscaulian houses for that of the Carthusians...
Musselburgh Doll Museum, closed in 2014 National Museum of Costume, New Abbey, closed in 2013. Items from the costume collection are now on display in...
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