Today we took Ian’s mum, who has been staying for the week, to Gretna Gateway to shop. Actually, I did most of the shopping.
For the benefit of foreign readers, this link explains Gretna Gateway
However, I do not think that shops would make much of a blog so am reporting only on the next stop, which was Sweetheart Abbey, an ancient monument which I have been wanting to visit for the last ten years.
An unusual name, it was bestowed on the abbey when Devorgilla buried her husband’s heart there. Her own tomb is there too although, as so often, it seems to have been lost or damaged over the centuries and has been reconstructed from fragments.
The ruins are very attractive and there is a pleasant cafe adjacent (but I forgot to take a photo – we had sandwiches and haggis, not cake).
For more information, you need this link:
www.historic-scotland.gov.uk/propertyresults/propertyoverview.htm?PropID=PL_283&PropName=Sweetheart%20Abbey
I wanted to fit in Caerlaverock Castle as well but we ran out of time. Perhaps in due course I shall be able to blog that castle plus Criffel, yet another place on my Scottish Borders tick list. (Hope you can handle the suspense.)
The Abbey was definitely more spectacular than the shopping centre and the haggis was great :yum: :yum: , but you should have seen the girls heading for the M&S outlet…. 😯
I don’t know what a “…haggis not cake…” is ❓
What happened to the rest of Devorgilla’s husband’s body? 😯 ❓
Well, according to Wikipedia the rest of the body was buried in the Abbey and Devorgilla carried the embalmed heart of her husband everywhere with her.
I’m really impressed how monumental this abbey was once. And it was built in the dark Middle Ages! I wonder how many of the buildings built today will be standing 700 years from now. 😕 Gretna Gateway is certainly not one of those! 😈 (Sorry, I just hate shopping and even the concept shopping centres.)
This is a new one on me too – never heard of it. Looks pretty stunning.