Anyway, I promised a bit of culture ....
I was out and about with a couple of friends and we decided to head off on our usual road trips on a cold and wet Sunday a couple of weeks ago.
After many miles, we ended up in Melrose and decided a culture trip to Melrose Abbey was in order.
Melrose Abbey was founded around 1136 by King David I and was dedicated to the Virgin Mary. Richard II, in retaliation for a raid by the Scots in 1385, sent a force North of the border which burnt the Abbey to the ground. Work started on the complete rebuilding of the Abbey almost as soon as Richard's forces had left, and it is the remains of this new building which we see now.
The heart of King Robert I (The Bruce) is buried in a leaden casket in Melrose Abbey. Widely recognised as the greatest knight in Christendom, Robert the Bruce had always wished to take part in a crusade. His wish was fulfilled only after his death, when his embalmed heart was carried in a leaden casket on a crusade by his great friend James Douglas who was killed in battle. Bruce's heart was brought back to Melrose and buried in the Abbey.
The inscription beside the place where his heart is buried reads:
"with gret worshyp has gert bery The kingis hart at the abbey Off Melros ..."
- roughly translated as - 'The King's heart buried with great solemnity at the Abbey of Melrose'.
When walking amongst the ruins and climbing the very narrow staircase to the roof platform of the Abbey, I saw many of the gargoyles with their strange faces and large open mouths for the rain water. The statues and large, towering spires with their fancy and elaborate carvings were gorgeous, but I was getting frozen to death in the biting cold wind and decided to head down the stairs and back to ground level again.
A beautiful and very peaceful place to visit, steeped in Scottish history. Highly recommended from me!
4 comments:
Hi Scots,
well, good to have you back!!
...men's problems, eh....er, my vivid imagination combined with a medical knowledge...er, nope, not gonna go there! ;D
great photies!! I need to get back over your way. I love the architecture and history/culture! And, I wouldn't even mind the weather!! :))
Hello. This post is likeable, and your blog is very interesting, congratulations :-). I will add in my blogroll =). If possible gives a last there on my blog, it is about the Fragmentadora de Papel, I hope you enjoy. The address is http://fragmentadora-de-papel.blogspot.com. A hug.
*Mens Trouble* what? ya mean ya will has swollen and fallen off? LOL ;)
Glad to see you back matie....... so very glad...... and oh my what wonderful photos.....
It makes me wanna throw down me crutches and go visit Melrose...... Im certainly gonna get up to Scotland one of these days.....
Fanks for the email matie...... I'll answer later this evening once the drugs have kicked in LMFAO....
Glad McTavish is doing ok..... see how I love to give people new names LMFAO..... hehehehehehe
X
Great photos.... I've never been there - but will try and take up you r recommendation over the summer
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