Jedburgh Abbey 1

Jedburgh Abbey lies on south facing slopes on the north bank of the Jed Water, close to the centre of Jedburgh. It was founded, initially as a priory, by King David I in 1138. His intention was partly to demonstrate to the English that the Scots could build on a grand scale so close to the oft disputed border between the two countries. In doing so he was tempting both fate and the English: and the result was not always a happy one for the abbey.

David had another reason for founding Jedburgh Abbey here. This site was probably the one used for a church built by Bishop Ecgred of Lindisfarne in 830. A beautifully carved fragment of a shrine on display in the visitor centre dates back to the 700s and suggests that even Bishop Ecgred was not the first Christian to worship here.