Destruction of the abbey Kilwinning Abbey

kilwinning abbey ruins in 1789



the oxenward barn, constructed abbey stone, long since demolished

the earls of glencairn , angus had plundered abbey in 1513 , george wishart s supporters did damage in 1540s. still more determined action in 1559, when earl of glencairn led raid on abbey during pictures, statues, books, vestments, , other images said have been taken abbey green , burned. in 1562, alexander, earl of glencairn believed have assaulted abbey, supposedly @ instigation of john knox , scottish protestant reformation; knox s battle cry being pull down nests , rooks fly away. said ornamental tombs broken , graves dug up; stained glass windows broken up, bearing images of virgin mary or saints. in kilwinning elsewhere, local aristocracy no doubt exploited situation grab of church s property , land possible, had in fact been happening before reformation, indicated plundering of 1513.

knox may have referred casting down of abbeys etc, did not mean physically destroyed, merely overthrown, reformers needed them parish churches, though of them vandalised kilwinning may have been. kilwinning abbey, other pre-reformation religious houses did not fall ruin due actions of reformers. had not been destroyed english armies fell ruin because no longer had revenues , rents support them wider diocese , lands. buildings parish churches , small parishes, kilwinning, not afford maintain such large properties. wind , weather did of damage thereafter, though of kilwinning abbey still standing time timothy pont visited scotland in 17th century. structure of monastery, says pont, solid , grate, of freestone cutte, church fair , staitly after ye modell of yat of glasgow, fair steiple of 7 score foote of height, yet standing quhen myselve did see it.

pont gives date of destruction 1591, thirty years after reformation. rather suggests abbey demolished in several phases, partly driven practical need building materials. once abbey started crumble, became local quarry, montgomeries of eglinton. substantial amounts of stone believed have been removed between 1561 , 1591. hay , corn, brought in fields, used stoke fire may have destroyed parts of abbey. according legend, 1 monk said have cursed men despoiling abbey , calling upon saint winnin save abbey saint s statue toppled on , killed 3 of earl s men.

a mason s mark on stone old deer park wall, suggesting stones came old kilwinning abbey



the site of goldcraigs freestone quarry, source of abbey building stone.

in 16th century abbey had been gradually securalised , protestantised; last abbot, archbishop gavin hamilton of roplock, died @ restalrig, outside edinburgh on black saturday, 15 june 1571, following skirmish between parties supporting queen , opposing protestant faction under earl of morton. although supported reformation, supporter of mary queen of scots.

alexander cunninghame, third son of earl of glencairn, became commendator of kilwinning abbey. refused pay stipend of parish ministers in 1581 old abbey s revenues , declared outlaw refusal recognise obligations. had passed valuable lands of montgreenan son, alexander.

alexander, elder, shot , killed @ palace gate of montgreenan sir robert montgomerie of skelmorlie on 1 august 1586, direct result of assassination of fourth earl of eglinton @ lainshaw, stewarton, in april of year, act thought have had hand in. post commendator, taken same day william melville of raith. disputed, confirmed in 1592 parliament , melville resigned of lands , properties crown.

stonework abbey reused in eglinton estate building @ benslie

in 1592 commendary had been transformed free barony william melville, brother of andrew melville. in 1603 melville sold lands , rights of office hugh, 5th earl of eglinton. confirmed when earl obtained, on 5 january, charter under great seal invested him these lands , titles of kilwinning abbey , 16 associated parish churches.