Arbroath Abbey

Arbroath Abbey was originally founded for the grey-clad monks of the order of Tiron in 1178 by King William the Lion. It was St Thomas of Canterbury's apparent supernatural intervention in the capture of King William at Alnwick in 1174 that prompted him to establish the abbey after his return from imprisonment in Normandy.

The presbytery at the east end was the first part of the building completed in 1214 and it was here that William the Lion was buried 19 years before the final consecration of the abbey in 1233.

Arbroath Abbey was the scene of one of the most significant events in Scottish history. On 6 April 1320, the Scottish Declaration of Independence was signed by the assembled Scottish nobility in Arbroath Abbey, when the Scots declared their nationhood and right to self-government.

The abbey is maintained by Historic Scotland.  Arbroath Abbey Visitor Centre provides extensive displays and allows interpretation of the abbey's remains and also explains the significance of the Declaration of Arbroath.

A display tells the story of the day the Stone of Destiny came to the abbey in 1951. New interpretation panels also explore potential links between the Declaration of Arbroath and the American Declaration of Independence.

Highlights

• A site long associated with Scotland’s sense of independent nationhood.
• The west front – an impressive example of a twin-towered church façade.
• The abbot’s house – one of the most complete abbots’ residences in Britain.
• The ‘Round O’ – a famous local landmark.
• A marble effigy thought to be that of King William I ‘the Lion’.