| Arbroath Abbey | |
|---|---|
 | |
  Arbroath Abbey | |
| 56°33′45″N 2°34′56″W / 56.5625°N 2.582222°W | |
| History | |
| Founded | 1178 |
| Founder(s) | King William the Lion |
Arbroath Abbey, in the Scottish town of Arbroath, was founded in 1178 by King William the Lion for a group of Tironensian Benedictine monks from Kelso Abbey. It was consecrated in 1197 with a dedication to the deceased Saint Thomas Becket, whom the king had met at the English court.[1] It was William's only personal foundation — he was buried before the high altar of the church in 1214.[2]
The last Abbot was Cardinal David Beaton, who in 1522 succeeded his uncle James to become Archbishop of St Andrews. The Abbey is cared for by Historic Environment Scotland and is open to the public throughout the year (entrance charge). The distinctive red sandstone ruins stand at the top of the High Street in Arbroath.
- ^ One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Arbroath". Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 2 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 339.
- ^ Blair, David Oswald Hunter (1913). . In Herbermann, Charles (ed.). Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company.
