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The main entrance to Arbroath Abbey from the High Street.
The diamond panel can be seen more clearly in the following photograph.
To the left of the Abbey is the recently open visitor centre and you are recommended to visit this when in the vicinity. Arbroath Abbey is famous for its connection with the signing of the
'Declaration of Arbroath', of which any search engine will bring you
several webpages.
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The diamond panel in more detail. The mirror image
that would have been at the opposite side has all but disappeared.
Note that the particular stones are laid at 45º to the level and this is the only example I know of this. |
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Now, inside the Abbey, looking above the main doorway, a
passage can be traversed between the two main towers.
Each of the seven columns were carved with rows of 'diamonds' around the circumference of the midway pillar decoration and capitals, but mostly now worn away. |
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This close-up shows some of the remaining carving, but the best still remaining detail faces the 'inside' of the Abbey where it is more protected from the weather. This would need special equipment to photograph. | ||
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Inside the Abbot's House of the Abbey are several paintings and other items of great interest. This particular sketch would appear to be of the passageway described above and the carving detail is very be clearly seen. However, the sketch would need to be removed from its frame to get a clear copy. | ||
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In the basement or 'undercroft' of the Abbot's House
can be seen individual carved stones which have been recovered from the
site.
The 'diamond' carvings can clearly be seen on this apparent arched segment. |
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Four further carved stones demonstrating the diamond
carving, probably of pillars or window or door frames.
Interestingly, there can be seen on the left side of the top left stone a comparable carved feature where the sides of the pyramid shape seem to have 'collapsed' leaving four 'arms'. This carving appears over the front door archway of the Abbey and I have seen this feature more often elsewhere. |
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THE UNDERCROFT
You are standing in the undercroft of the Abbot's house. It was attached to the abbey kitchens and the now demolished cloister. Later, the undercroft itself became a kitchen. From Tiron to Arbroath! The monks that lived and worked here were Tironensian, or grey monks. They were brought to Arbroath by William I from Kelso Abbey where his grandfather King David I had established a monastery around 1128. They were the first reformed Benedictine order to be introduced to Britain from France. They lived by the Rule of St. Benedictine and spent much of their time in manual labour or in quiet contemplation with stricter observance of the vows of poverty, chastity and obedience than the Benedictine order. "I'm Andrew, apprentice for the stonemason. My master started working here when building began in 11?? and ?? years later it still isn't finished. I know quite a lot about what the monks do everyday = Let me show you -- -- you know that before you can become a monk, you have to promise to be -- to -- and is -- the abbey -- -- I don't think I could do all that!! |
