Arbroath Abbey - Symbol of a Nation, Site of the Declaration of ArbroathThe Declaration was addressed to the Pope who had given his support to Edward II and excommunicated Robert the Bruce. The nobles had to intervene in the dispute between the Bruce and the Pope. The Declaration explained how the Bruce had rescued the country from a dreadful situation and for this they would support him in all things.
The Declaration has been an inspiration for succeeding generations. The event is celebrated on 6 April each year in Angus and throughout the world as part of the Tartan Day celebrations. A reconstruction of the Signing of the Declaration is staged in the Arbroath Abbey each year by the Arbroath Abbey Pageant Society. Angus has played a central role in Scottish History on a number of occasions. Today Scots from all over the world come to visit Arbroath Abbey as an important symbol of Scottish nationhood.
It was placed in the hands of the Tironensian order based in Kelso. King William granted his new Abbey independence from the mother house. He also showered it with endowments. These included the income from 24 parishes, a toft of land in every royal burgh, lands, fisheries, salt pans, ferries and of course Arbroath itself. The monks were permitted to set up a burgh, hold a market and to build a harbour. Even King John of England granted the Abbey the privilege of buying and selling goods anywhere in England, except the City of London, toll free.
The function of Arbroath and every other Abbey was to provide an ordered way of life based on the Gospel's teachings under which the monks could serve God and sanctify their souls. The monks did not work outside the Abbey. Their chief function was to perform the Divine Office.
The Abbey fell into decline and after the Reformation it fell into ruin also. Many of the monks remained in the declining monastery. For a number of years the Lady Chapel was used as a parish church. In 1590 Arbroath Town Council granted the stones and timbers from the old dormitory to be used to build a proper church. The Abbey became a quarry for cash conscious burgesses. Many houses still have interesting carved details which started life in the Abbey.
Arbroath Abbey has one more important date in its history. On Christmas Day 1950 the Stone of Destiny was stolen from Westminster Abbey. On the morning of 11 April 1951 it was deposited on the site of the high altar where it was discovered by the Abbey custodian. Many believe it was not the original stone that was returned or that now sits in Edinburgh Castle.
It was not until 1815 that any steps were taken to preserve the ruins, and the Abbey is now under the guardianship of Historic Scotland.
The recent addition of a visitor centre has given the Arbroath Abbey of today a new lease of life and reinforced its reputation as one of Scotland's most important historical sites. The centre uses interpretation and audiovisual facilities to introduce visitors to the Abbey, its role in Scottish history and the architectural interest of the building itself.
The story - and today's significance - of the Declaration of Arbroath is interpreted in the Gatehouse Range, while the Abbot's House describes the monks' way of life, the role of the Abbot, featuring Cardinal Beaton, and the long history of the building itself.
