FOR THE NATION.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16162, 16 March 1918, Page 11

FOR THE NATION.

SIR WALTER SCOTT'S BURIAL PLACE. LORD GLENOONNER'S GIFT. (from our own correspondent.) LONDON, January 22. In presenting Dryburgh Abbey to th« nation as a free gift. Lord Glenconner makes one condition only—' that the privilege of holding an annual service within the abbey walls may be continued." He feels sure "that the custody and preservation of this ancient and noble building."will be in safe and loving hands for ever." This famous Berwickshire monastic ruin is situated some four to five miles from Melrose, and is world-famed a a the burial -place-of fair Waiter Scott, who lies in the ruined St .Maw's aisle of the north transept. Sir Walter maternal ancestors —the Hahburtons or Newmains—once owned Dryburgn, ana they, too, are buried there; also the remains of Lady Scott, her son, and op John Lockhart, Sir Walter's biographer. And in the next aisle may be seen the burial place of tho Haigs of Bemersyde, the family of the present Commander-in-Chief on the Western front. In 1554 Dryburgh. Abbev was burned by the British under Sir George Bowes and Sir Bryan Layton, and was not remits glory (says a writer) is its' picturesque setting, upon a wooded promontory, around three sides of which the river Tweed sweeps, broad and BWift, ' four miles from Melrose. Some of the vew trees are nearly as ancient as the ruins they shade. Tho monastery was 1 founded bv Hugh do Morville, the Lord of Lauderdale, in 1150, and to it came the White Canons from Alnwick. I'M ward 11., retreating from his Scottish wars in 1322, encamped in the grounds, and burnt the place down. King Robert I. restored the house soon after, and there are many remains o£ his convontual buildings, which are better preserved than tho church itself. The chapterhouse stands entire, a long building with a simple vaulted roof, a I beautiful portal, and remains of an ar- ! cade or pointed archos. Adjoining is tlu> abbot's parlour, with a large fireI place. St. Mod an's Chapel is also subl stantiallv complete, the cloister walks survive, "and the refectory will preserves -jv handsome rose window. James Stow- | art, last Abbot of Dryburgh, is borao lin remembrance, by his arms carried 1 over tho staircase to what is called "'tho dungeon"—probably, however, a mere store cellar. The abbey -was at no trmo of great size or wealth, but is notable in a land of ruinod churches;for the extent of its remains above "ground, which enable tho entire homo of the;old monk; to be visualised. . . , .