Old Photograph Lincluden Abbey Scotland

Old photograph of Lincluden Abbey near in Dumfries, Scotland. The foundation of the priory is accredited to Uchtred, died 1174, who had co-ruled Galloway with his brother Gille Brigte. Uchtred did not have the benefit of the relative peace of his father's reign in Galloway. Fergus of Galloway, died 1161, had founded such establishments such as Soulseat Abbey, St Mary's Isle Priory, Dundrennan Abbey, the foundation at Kirkcudbright, Kirk of St. Cuthbert, and re-established the foundation at Whithorn, the historic community of St Ninian. Uchtred's focus of power was in eastern Galloway, while his brother's was in the west, their reigns were marked by turbulent relationships between themselves, the Irish Kings of Ailech, the King of Scots, William the Lyon, and the King of England, Henry II. Lincluden was the only monastic house that Uchtred would found, meeting his death at the hand of his brother in 1174. Prior to the foundation of Lincluden, there had been only been houses of Monks in Galloway, Uchtred's new house was the first nunnery within the Lordship. The first intake were probably Cluniac sisters from France or England, later being supplemented by local novices. In the late 14th century the area became part of the fief of Archibald the Grim, Lord of Galloway, and latterly 3rd Earl of Douglas. The nuns at Lincluden had reputedly broken their vows of chastity and were guilty of licentious behaviour, Douglas with an eye on the revenues from the priory, sat in judgement over them and found them guilty. He dismissed the nuns from the priory. Pehaps penitent at the expulsion of the nuns, Earl Archibald ordered the construction of a new church to be built, and set up a College consisting of a Provost and twelve Canons. Earl Archibald and his successors spent a great of money on ornamenting the church, and there are many fine armorial carvings still within the ruins. Still extant is the tomb of Princess Margaret, Countess of Douglas and Duchess of Touraine, the daughter of King Robert III of Scotland and wife of Archibald Douglas, 4th Earl of Douglas. The abbey was eventually abandoned around 1700.



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