The Church As It May Have Looked The unusual double-cross plan of the church may have been inspired by similar churches around the Rhine Valley although it was probably a cathedral such as Ely in eastern England which provided the immediate idea. The church was divided into two parts by a screen; in the eastern part were the high altar and monks' choir, whilst the western part served as the parish church for the local people. |
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The Abbey in the 19th Century This engraving shows the abbey in much the state you now see. A fragmentary tower rises above the western transepts (cross arms), with parts of the nave and porch to either side. The more massive architectural forms of the lower parts give way to rather lighter details above, indicating that the church was long in building. |
THE EARL OF HERTFORD
Kelso, like the other Border abbeys, suffered greatly in the wars with England. By 1316 the monks were said to be reduced to begging. Worse was to come in the 16th century. There were attacks in 1523, 1542 and 1544, and in 1545 the earl of Hertford attempted to systematically destroy it. By the time of the Reformation in 1560 it is doubtful if there was more than a struggling community of a dozen monks.
Edward Seymour (Earl of Hertford and 1st Duke of Somerset)
c.1500 - 1552 Protector Somerset. Seymour was the brother of Jane Seymour, the wife of King Henry VIII of England. He served on various military and diplomatic missions for his King, who made him Viscount Beauchamp in 1536 and Earl of Hertford in 1537. Seymour led the 'Rough Wooing' campaign against Scotland between 1544 and 1547, brought about when the Scots reneged on a promise to allow Mary, Queen of Scots, to marry Henry's son and heir Prince Edward. This campaign caused significant destruction to Edinburgh and much of southern Scotland. Seymour acted as Lord Protector when Edward VI acceded to the throne of England on the death of Henry in 1547, at the age of just 10 years. Edward appointed Seymour Lord Treasurer and Earl Marshall and created him Duke of Somerset, vesting in him considerable power. Within five years, Seymour's opponents ensured his fall from favour and he was at first imprisoned and subsequently executed on Tower Hill in London. |
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Sketch Picture of the Abbey |
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Among the less distinguished classes of monachism [sic, meaning monasticism] that also sprang out of the original Benedictine, may be mentioned that to which Kelso Abbey, in the town of Kelso, Roxburghshire, belonged. It acknowledges the same founder as Melrose, St. David. Kelso was repeatedy burned or otherwise injured during the English invasions. The ruins (Sketch Above) are of mingled styles, the Norman predominating. At a certain period they were injured by incongruous additions for the use of a church congregation, but, to the credit of all concerned, these blemishes have been removed, and we see the building now in all its own unadulterated and venerable grandeur.” (p. 302) The engraving is signed Jackson, S. with the ‘n’ backwards. The extract above was taken from the following Website: http://www.fromoldbooks.org/OldEngland/pages/1054-Kelso/ |
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Below are some Photographs as the Abbey stands today (Summer 2006) |
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(Click on photo's to enlarge) |
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