© Mapbox · © OpenStreetMap contributors · Boundary data © Historic Environment Scotland
Arbroath Abbey and associated buildings, including the Abbot's House, is a major ecclesiastical complex in Angus, Scotland, founded in 1178 by William the Lion, King of Scots. The abbey stands upon bedrock of the Arbuthnott-Garvock Group, sandstone interbedded with conglomerate, siltstone and mudstone deposited during the Pragian period of the Early Devonian. This local geology provided substantial building stone for the abbey's construction.
The abbey functioned as a Tironensian house and became one of Scotland's wealthiest and most influential monasteries. The surviving ruins include the distinctive red sandstone gatehouse, portions of the abbey church and claustral ranges. The Abbot's House, located within the complex, testifies to the considerable status and authority held by successive abbots. The site retained strategic importance into the early modern period, serving residential purposes after the Reformation.
The entire complex is protected as a scheduled monument under Historic Environment Scotland reference SM90018, ensuring preservation of these substantial remains of medieval monastic architecture and their setting within the Angus landscape.
Arbroath Abbey and associated buildings, including the Abbot's House is a scheduled monument protected by Historic Environment Scotland under reference SM90018. View the official record →
Arbroath Abbey and associated buildings, including the Abbot's House, is a major ecclesiastical complex in Angus, Scotland, founded in 1178 by William the Lion, King of Scots. It is designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument by Historic Environment Scotland under reference SM90018.
Arbroath Abbey and associated buildings, including the Abbot's House is a Scheduled Ancient Monument, legally protected by Historic Environment Scotland — the body responsible for designating and safeguarding heritage sites in Scotland. The official designation reference is SM90018.
Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including Souterrain, Eastern Cemetery, Arbroath (1 km), Dickmount Law, cairn (2.6 km), Maiden Castle, fort 700m ESE of East Seaton (2.7 km).
This page is just one thread. A full Aubrey report pulls together 14 strands of Arbroath Abbey and associated buildings, including the Abbot's House's history, each drawn from the record and mapped to the exact spot:
Every location is different. Not every section appears for every place, only what the historical record actually holds turns up in a report.
Arbroath Abbey and associated buildings, including the Abbot's House stands on Arbuthnott-Garvock Group, bedrock that formed in the Pragian. The rock here is sandstone with subordinate conglomerate, siltstone and mudstone.