Jedburgh Abbey

In 1118, before his accession to the Scottish throne, Prince David established a foundation of canons of the Order of Saint Augustine here. The first canons came from Beauvais in France. The foundation appears to have had the status of a priory in its early years. The church was later elevated to the status of a monastery before becoming a full-fledged abbey dedicated to the Virgin Mary in the years before King David's death in 1153, probably in 1147.

Malcolm IV and William the Lion renewed the abbey's privileges. The nave and choir were built in the 13th century and Alexander III married Yolande de Dreux here in 1285.

In addition to lands and chapels in southern Scotland, the abbey owned holdings in Northumberland. As a result, the abbot had to swear allegiance to the English King Edward I in 1296. After the the English armee was defeated at Stirling, the abbey was plundered and devastated by the English in retaliation. Robert the Bruce had it restored during his reign, but it fell back into English hands in 1346 after the Scottish defeat at the Battle of Neville's Cross. In 1370 it was enlarged by the addition of a transept by order of King David II of Scotland.

The monastery was destroyed several times: in 1410, 1416 and 1464, and again in 1523, as was the town of Jedburgh. The beginning of the Scottish Reformation around 1560 marked the end of the great Abbey of St Mary of Jedburgh.

During the Reformation the monks were allowed to remain in the monastery, but the church was used as a place of worship for the Reformed congregation. In 1671 part of the nave was closed off for safety reasons, then in 1871 the whole of it and a new parish church was built.