Description

The monument comprises an abbey and burial-ground of medieval date, part of which is visible as a raised platform.

The monument lies on a promontory projecting from the SW side of Soulseat Loch, at around 15m OD. The promontory is now dominated by a Victorian manse, its outbuildings and a walled garden. The raised platform, in garden ground to the E of the manse, comprises the turf-covered remains of a rectangular structure measuring about 20.8m E-W by 10m overall. A low rectangular stone structure of more recent date is located at the W end of the platform. A substantial buried wall and a small area of cobbling was revealed immediately to the S of the platform during a watching brief. Three post-medieval gravestones are visible at the E end of the raised platform, while other gravestones and slabs were noted to the S.

Soulseat was a Premonstratensian abbey founded in the twelfth century, possibly on the site of a slightly earlier Cistercian abbey. The abbey was reputedly ruinous by the end of the fourteenth century. The burial-ground went out of use in the nineteenth century.

The area proposed for scheduling comprises the remains described and an area around them within which related material may be expected to be found. It is irregular and is as marked in red on the accompanying map extract. The stone structure at the W end of the platform, and any active burial lairs, are to be excluded from the scheduling. Also excluded are all the above-ground parts of the domestic buildings in current use, although the ground beneath these buildings is to be scheduled.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland

Sources

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Source: Historic Environment Scotland