Name: CULROSS Location: Culross
Abbey town County: Fife Foundation: 1217 Mother house: Kinloss Relocation: None Founder: Malcolm, earl of Fife Secularised: 1589 Prominent members: Access: Parish church and Historic Scotland – open to
the public
Culross was founded in 1217 by Malcolm, earl
of Fife (d. 1230), and was colonized by monks from Kinloss. The
idea was first contemplated in 1214 when Malcolm petitioned the
Cistercian General Chapter to
inquire into the suitability of the site he had chosen and the
sufficiency of the initial endowment.
Monks may have been present at the site before the convent was
sent from Kinloss to take possession in 1217-18. The abbey was
never
wealthy and the community was relatively small. However, the monastery
was known for its gardens and scriptorium which produced
illuminated manuscripts and fine binding. It is also said that
there had been
a school within the precinct which was attended by the youth of
the burgh; apparently the pupils were instructed
in grammar and trained in virtue.
In 1561, the annual income of
the abbey was valued at £1600; a modest income when compared
with the likes of Coupar Angus,Melrose and
Kinloss. In 1540 there were
sixteen monks at the abbey but the number had dropped to ten by
the 1550s. From 1511 the abbey was ruled by a series of commendators
and from 1531 these were invariably drawn from the Colville family.
In 1589 the property was erected into a temporal lordship for James
Colville of Easter Wemyss and in 1609 he was created Lord Colville
of Culross. In 1633 the east choir of the abbey church was taken
over for use as a parish church while the adjoining buildings fell
into decay. In 1642 the north transept was converted into a tomb
house by Sir George Bruce of Carnock; carved effigies of him, his
wife, and eight children can still be viewed there today. The abbey
church was restored in 1823, although this operation removed many
of the original features, including the transept chapels. Another
restoration took place in 1905, reinstating the chapels and leaving
the buildings much as they are seen today. The eastern parts of
the church are still in use for worship and are generally open to
the public. The ruins of the claustral ranges are now in the care
of Historic Scotland and are also open to the public.
