Ancient Melrose Abbey, a photo from Scottish Borders, Scotland

Photographer's Note

Good Morning Everyone,

I find it hard to explain how interesting I have found it, browsing my archives and reintroducing myself to scenes that had slipped to the back of my memory!

I have recently been looking at records of TE Get-togethers and surprised myself at how long these photographs have been in my archives!

This photograph was from a small get-together in Peebles, Scotland.
John (tyro) kindly arranged it for us and several of us travelled to the Borders for a couple of days.
It was autumn so the weather was was mixed but we had great companionship and saw some quite amazing sites.

This was one of our first visits.
It is the ruins of Melrose Abbey.

Melrose Abbey is a magnificent ruin on a grand scale with lavishly decorated masonry.

Probably the most famous ruin in Scotland, the abbey was founded by David I in 1136 for the Cistercian Order, and it was largely destroyed by Richard II's English army in 1385. The surviving remains of the church are of the early 15th century, and are of an elegance unsurpassed in Scotland. Objects found during excavation are displayed in the Commendator's House.

The exterior of this magnificent ruin is decorated by unusual sculptures, including hobgoblins, cooks with ladles and a bagpipe playing pig.

The abbey is also thought to be the burial place of Robert the Bruce's heart, marked with a commemorative carved stone plaque within the grounds. - source Visit Scotland

I did a sepia version, too, which I will add as a workshop

When I came to research the abbey, there was a strong note about it being closed because of the Coronavirus!

Keep safe, everyone, Bev :-)

ikeharel, holmertz, jean113, jean113, jhm, ricardomattos, Fis2, COSTANTINO, tyro, tyro, pierrefonds, adramad, PaulVDV, everlasting, macjake has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

ikeharel (113353) 2020-04-04 3:01

Had already written a critique on this - than it was disappeared...
Here I go again, Beverley:
We passed near this abbey on our tour in 08/1993, but saw it only for a minute through the bus window as it was raining outside.
It was explained by the tour-guide why the abbey was left roof-less, apparently it was a fire burned down the wooden ceiling.
The green lawn in great contrast to the stones, walls and tall beautiful arches.
Wish you a nice weekend,
Ike

holmertz (102708) 2020-04-04 3:59

Hello Bev,
I was curious to see what other photos you had posted from here from that TE meeting, but to my surprise I didn't fine any of these magnificent ruins. How could you just leave this in your computer for so many years? It is still a very impressive building and must have been incredibly beautiful several hundred years ago. The leaning gravestone covered with moss is perfectly placed in the foreground near the corner. During your visit you may have deplored the dull weather, but the clouds created a very pleasant light and mild colours. I like the balance between the clouds and the lawn.
I am busy reading "The Mirror & the Light" by Hilary Mantel, and this could be an illustration from that book.
Kind regards,
Gert

Tue (92370) 2020-04-04 4:27

Hello Beverley,
A beautiful photo of these impressive ruins of the ancient abbey. The Gothic architecture looks great against the dark grey clouds, which suit the mood of the photo really well. Also the old tombstones are very well included in the foreground.
Lars

jean113 (27879) 2020-04-04 4:51

Hello Beverley, I think that Lars is right, the rather grey sky adds to the mood of this picture.
The ruins are very impressive, and you succeeded in filling the frame with lots of details of the site.
I am intrigued by the gravestones, is there a chapel/church on site? The stones are certainly not as old as the ruins.
Kind regards, Jean.

jhm (211736) 2020-04-04 5:49

Hello Bev,

***Sent an email to me, I want to send you, a powerpoint of Bruges during COVID 19.***

We get a good view about the old abbey and cemetry in foreground.
An excllent composituion , pleasant sharp and clear to look at.
Very well done, TFS.

Kindest regards,
John.

ricardomattos (17460) 2020-04-04 8:55

Hi Bev,

I can see from your photo that it was a very imposing and beautiful building. There is a lot of history behind these ruins and the photo is very well composed.

Regards

Ricardo

Fis2 (170779) 2020-04-04 9:47

Witaj Bev!
A very interesting ruins and curious graves, I love it.
Excellent framing, colros and sharpness.
Nice work from Your archive.
Nice weekend.
Keep safe.
Krzysztof

mesutilgim (0) 2020-04-04 10:58

Hello Bev,
Another interesting capture/entry in your gallery. Taken with good pov and layout. Nice brigth colors and good sharpness. Nice framed and many good, usefull notes.
TFS and have a nice weekend
MESUT ILGIM

PS.I know graves and gravestones are not much sympatetic but they all are silent evidences of past times.

COSTANTINO (116518) 2020-04-04 12:17

Hello dear Beverley
all the old photos have their
own interest...I prefer
the old photos because sometimes
they are better that the new ones..
according to your useful notes
Melorose Abbey is amagnificent ruin...
regards
Costantino

tyro (30513) 2020-04-04 13:36

Hello Bev,

This is a delightful photograph and it brings back some lovely memories of our weekend in Peebles - could that really be nearly seven years ago? I certainly remember the cloudy skies that weekend and you have captured that sky very well but also the details in the ancient stonework and gravestones perfectly in this well composed image.

Lovely soft light, fine colours and excellent detail and sharpness.

Beautiful!

You take care in these troubled times.

Kindest Regards,

John.

P.S. Your photograph urged me to have a look through some of my own old pics and I found another one from Melrose - actually taken the year before yours! :)

jmdias (115186) 2020-04-04 13:48

bev

UK is full of these amazing ruins of abbeys, it is a pity such monuments were abandoned or destroyed, even if the religion was swapped in those days the material purpose could have been preserved to another utilization. nice view,

take care

jorge

lousat (139286) 2020-04-04 14:41

Hi Bev,another very nice memory from your archive,a meeting with John,a perfect guide to discover beauties like that. Wonderful perspective showing the ruins over the tombs, good idea the sepia version in the WS too. Have a nice Sunday and thanks,Luciano

Nicou (193806) 2020-04-04 21:13

Hello

quelle vue de cette abbaye fantastique quel cimetiиre et ces pierres tombales en premier plan et tourtes ces ruines en fond quel rendu sur la pierre tout ce fond superbe
Bravo et belle journйe
Nicou

ifege (48111) 2020-04-04 22:13

Hi Bev
All our national trust places are closed as well. Great photo with excellent detail.
cheers
Ian

emka (158172) 2020-04-04 23:22

Hello Bev, I like such ruined abbeys or churches very much. Sometimes I think that look more attractive than the well-preserved ones. Anyway, more mysterious and romantic. Here is a good example. We can imagine how it looked like earlier. Wonderful Gothic windows. Nice also the view of the old graveyard. I was not in Melrose but I visited also beautiful Elgin Abbey.
Stay safe

MAlgo

jemaflor (147156) 2020-04-04 23:43

Hi Bev,
Well presented these ruins, good composition and depth result with this Fg, tfs.

Silvio1953 (221627) 2020-04-05 5:41

Ciao cara Bev, great view of fascinating ruined abbey, excellent perspective, splendid light and wonderful colors, very well done, my friend, ciao Silvio

pierrefonds (114470) 2020-04-05 6:43

Hi Beverley,

The tombstones are framing well the ruins. The point of view is showing the details of the ruins of the Melrose Abbey. There is a good contrast between the colours of the picture. Have a nice day.

Pierre

rychem (72187) 2020-04-05 6:55

I like to visit old cemeteries! They have a specific atmosphere and a lot of informations about buried people, excellent photo, really something for me
regards Ryszard

adramad (72998) 2020-04-05 9:42

Hi Bev.
Impressive the ruins of this abbey, it must have been a true architectural jewel, that large size of gothic windows, worth it with the wars of religions or any kind of lives and destruction that they leave. Today it could be a great monument.
Good image perspective, very pleasing to the eye.
Colorful, sharp, and bright is captured effectively.
Very good composition, magnificent presentation.
Have a good ending for Sunday.
Kind regards and stay safe.
Luis.

PaulVDV (62920) 2020-04-05 11:58

Hello Beverley,
This is a place that I think will certainly interest Mariusz.
I also find it very interesting to visit abandoned ruins.
The UK appears to have an unimaginably large wealth of such ancient abbeys.
The leaning gravestones form a beautiful foreground.
Best regards, Paul

Miguel82 (47110) 2020-04-05 12:54

Beverley, that ancient abbey with a cemetery in front of it reminds me a video games scene. They were inspired from this type of ruins for sure. This historical site must be fascinating to explore. Fine colors, good sharpness, interesting photo note, regards.

everlasting (19680) 2020-04-05 21:45

A very nice photo of these impressive ruins . How could you keep it hidden for so long.
The gravestones make a good lead-in and the Gothic architecture of the Abbey stands out well against the dark grey clouds.

macjake (98456) 2020-04-07 11:02

Hi Bev
you know i'm going to love this one. I wish I could have been there for the TE meeting as well, this would have been totally up my alley. glad you decided to highlight the headstone with the moss on it (common for you lately), and the grime on it, it adds so much to the scene. effective vertical view too, we don't do enough of the verticals. they're almost always better. cheers
Craig

mkamionka (74447) 2020-04-10 7:18

Hi Bev,
I have recognized this spot immediately.
I think it may have beet the first time I met you?
I would like to share here my photo from a similar point of view but the links stopped working:
https://www.trekearth.com/gallery/Europe/United_Kingdom/Scotland/Scottish_Borders/Melrose/photo1439238.htm
The light conditions were really challenging but this is a fantastic place and quite a sentimental reportage.
In fact two days ago we had a beautiful evening ad I went for a walk to a nearby church which is also surrounded by cemetery. I took several photos there
but I didn't have a chance to check them.

Very creative processing here, eye catching outcome.
Thank you for reminding me the good TE meeting times :)
M