Newbattle

Newbattle Abbey was a
Cistercian

Cistercian monastery near the village of
Newbattle

Newbattle in Midlothian, Scotland, which has subsequently become a
stately home and then an educational institution.
Contents
1 Monastery
2 Stately Home
3 College
4 Burials at the Abbey
5 See also
6 References
Monastery[edit]
It was founded in 1140 by monks from Melrose Abbey. The patron was
King
David I of Scotland

David I of Scotland (with his son Henry). Its church was
dedicated in 1234. The abbey was burned by English royal forces in
1385 and once more in 1544. It became a secular lordship for the last
commendator, Mark Kerr (Ker) in 1587.
Newbattle

Newbattle Abbey was a filiation of
Melrose Abbey

Melrose Abbey (itself a daughter of
Rievaulx Abbey) and was situated, according to
Cistercian

Cistercian usages, in a
beautiful valley along the River South Esk. Rudolph, its first abbot,
a strict and severe observer of the rule, devoted himself
energetically to the erection of proper buildings. The church,
cruciform in shape, was two hundred and forty feet in length, and the
other buildings in proportion; for the community numbered at one
period as many as eighty monks and seventy lay-brothers.
The abbey soon became prosperous, and famous for the regularity of its
members, several of whom became well-known bishops. It was especially
dear to the kings of Scotland, scarcely one of whom failed to visit it
from time to time, and they were always its generous benefactors.
One of the principal sources of income was the coal mines in its
possession, for these monks were among the first, if not the first,
coal miners in Scotland. The earliest mention of coal in Scotland is
to be found in a charter of an Earl of Winchester, granting to them a
coal mine. In 1526 King
James V

James V granted them a petition to build a
harbour at Morrison's Haven, and it is from this date that Aitchison's
Haven Lodge was established as a stonemasons lodge.[1] In 1531, the
Abbot of
Newbattle

Newbattle agreed with the Abbot of Dunfermline to work his
coalmine at
Prestongrange

Prestongrange so that it would drain water from the
neighboring mines which belonged to
Dunfermline Abbey

Dunfermline Abbey to the sea.[2]
Newbattle

Newbattle suffered much from English incursions at various times,
particularly in 1385, when the monastery and church were burned, and
the religious either carried away, or forced to flee to other
monasteries; it required forty years to repair these losses. A part of
the monastery was again destroyed by the Earl of Hertford, but the
destruction seems to have been chiefly confined to the church.
At the time of the Reformation but few of the monks remained, and
these were pensioned by the commendator, Mark Kerr. Kerr made a timely
conversion to Protestantism and was able to retain the lands around
the abbey. His son, also Mark, became Lord
Newbattle

Newbattle in 1596 and Earl
of Lothian in 1606.
The monastery site, including burial grounds, traces of the chapel and
cloisters and some associated buildings is now a designated scheduled
monument.[3]
Stately Home[edit]
Newbattle

Newbattle Abbey in 2011
Part of the abbey was converted into a house which survives at the
core of the current building. The house incorporates part of the south
end of the monastic range, with the dorter undercroft intact.
The house was modified and rebuilt successively by John Mylne in 1650,
William Burn

William Burn in 1836 and
David Bryce

David Bryce in 1858. The drawing room
represents one of Scotland's greatest rooms, decorated by Thomas
Bonnar around 1870. The 19th century Chapel was created in a vaulted
undercroft that may date from the original abbey buildings. The chapel
includes a 16th-century font and a fine parquet floor, made using wood
from the estate in the style of original tile-work. The library is
oak-lined and features a 17th-century moulded ceiling. The garden to
the rear of the house includes a pair of large octagonal 17th century
sundials. The main abbey remains lie buried to the west and north of
the original house.
King George IV visited during his Scottish tour of 1822 and the King's
Gate was built in his honour.
College[edit]
Newbattle

Newbattle Abbey remained the home of the Marquesses of Lothian until
being given to the nation in 1937 by Philip Kerr, 11th Marquess of
Lothian, to be used as a College of Education.
The College was established under trustees from the four ancient
Scottish Universities specifically for adults returning to
education.[4] New residential building was added in the 1960s and
funding came through the Scottish Education Department.
In 1987 the
Secretary of State for Scotland
.svg/240px-Royal_Coat_of_Arms_of_the_United_Kingdom_(Government_in_Scotland).svg.png)
Secretary of State for Scotland announced the intention to
withdraw funding, threatening the college with closure.[5] However,
new forms of financial support have enabled the College to survive.[6]
Burials at the Abbey[edit]
Marie de Coucy
See also[edit]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to
Newbattle

Newbattle Abbey.
Abbot of Newbattle, for a list of abbots and commendators
Scheduled monuments in Midlothian
References[edit]
^ The Lodge of Aitchison's Haven
^ Registrum, Bannatyne Club (1849), p.xxvi: Registrum de Dunfermelyn
Bannatyne Club (1842), pp.362-3.
^ "
Newbattle

Newbattle Abbey, abbey church, cloisters and associated buildings
SM1190". Historic Environment Scotland. Retrieved 22 September
2017.
^ "History".
Newbattle

Newbattle Abbey College. Archived from the original on
2008-03-14. Retrieved 2007-12-27.
^ "Hansard written answers". 1989-03-09. Retrieved 2007-12-27.
^ "History".
Newbattle

Newbattle Abbey College. Archived from the original on
2008-03-14. Retrieved 2007-12-27.
Registrum S. Mariae de Neubotle, Bannatyne Club (1849)
Newbattle

Newbattle Abbey
charters 1140-1528, & later rentals.
Cowan, Ian B. & Easson, David E., Medieval Religious Houses:
Scotland With an Appendix on the Houses in the Isle of Man, Second
Edition, (London, 1976), p. 77
Herbermann, Charles, ed. (1913). "Newbattle". Catholic
Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company.
v
t
e
Cistercian

Cistercian monasteries in Scotland
Melrose filiation (from Rievaulx)
Melrose Abbey

Melrose Abbey (1136)
Newbattle

Newbattle Abbey (1140)
Holmcultram Abbey* (1150)
Kinloss Abbey

Kinloss Abbey (1150)
Coupar Angus Abbey

Coupar Angus Abbey (1164)
Balmerino Abbey

Balmerino Abbey (1227)
Dundrennan filiation (from Rievaulx)
Dundrennan Abbey
.jpg/500px-Dundrennan_Abbey_2012_(1).jpg)
Dundrennan Abbey (1142)
Glenluce Abbey

Glenluce Abbey (1192)
Sweetheart Abbey

Sweetheart Abbey (1273)
Mellifont filiation** (from Cîteaux)
? Soulseat Abbey*** (1148)
Saddell Abbey

Saddell Abbey (1207)
Kinloss filiation**** (from Rievaulx)
Culross Abbey

Culross Abbey (1217)
Deer Abbey

Deer Abbey (1219)
Latter day foundations
Nunraw (1946)
* Now in England, but at the time of its foundation, part of the
Scottish kingdom of David I.
**
Filiation from
Mellifont Abbey

Mellifont Abbey in Ireland, founded 1142.
*** If this existed, it was shortly afterwards replaced by a
Premonstratensian

Premonstratensian establishment.
**** In the line of filiation from Melrose (above).
This article incorporates text from a publication now in the
public domain: Herbermann, Charles, ed. (1913). "Newbattle".
Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton. Coordinates:
55°52′58″N 3°04′02″W / 55.88278°N 3.06722°W /