Arbroath Abbey Action

08/06/2026

ARBROATH ABBEY ACTION

RESCHEDULING OF ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

It is unfortunate that due to unforeseen circumstances the Arbroath Abbey Action AGM which was due to take place on 10th June 2026 is now cancelled.
The AGM will be rescheduled to a later date in the summer. We will keep you informed of the new date.
Apologies for any inconvenience.
Arbroath Abbey Action

13/05/2026

ARBROATH ABBEY ACTION

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING – WEDNESDAY 10th JUNE 2026

The Committee members of ARBROATH ABBEY ACTION would like to invite you to our Annual General Meeting on Wednesday 10th June at 7pm in the OLD COURT HOUSE BUILDING, High Street, Arbroath.

In December 2025 Historic Environment Scotland carried out an online survey “Towards Sustainable Stewardship.” HES will probably report its findings later this year. As mentioned previously Arbroath Abbey has been downgraded from a place of Significant Importance to a lesser classification. This will mean that the Abbey will probably only warrant an annual inspection, no conservation work, only essential repairs. All the barriers will remain. The intact building, The Sanctuary, The Gatehouse and the Abbots House will likely remain closed to the public.
There is a mechanism to reverse this decision, however, we need a strong dedicated team to achieve these aims.
If you are interested in this project, please come along to our AGM on 10th June in the Old Courthouse building 7pm
We look forward to meeting you and sharing ideas.

07/04/2026

Declaration Day +1
Due to a technical glitch our Declaration day post was not sent in time, However, we thought it was worth posting even a day late.

Our congratulations go to the Friends of Arbroath Abbey for undertaking such a great event.It was heartwarming to see so many happy faces enjoying the sunshine, food and a little history about their town. Well Done..

THE DECLARATION OF ARBROATH

On 6th April 1320 Robert the Bruce, along with the Barons and Nobles of Scotland, signed the famous Declaration of Arbroath. The letter was an “eloquent plea” sent to Pope John XXII seeking recognition of Scotland’s autonomy from English rule – a plea that still resonates today.

As Historic Environment Scotland quotes: “Arbroath Abbey is best known for the Declaration of Arbroath, the most famous document in Scottish history” – “Arbroath Abbey History”.

The Abbey celebrates a long and illustrious history from its founding in 1178 by William I (William the Lion) to the Medieval Power house. More recently it hosted the Stone of Destiny 1951/52.

It makes us wonder why Historic Environment Scotland waxes so lyrical about Arbroath Abbey history, and yet has downgraded it from Category A. in 2018 to Category C in 2024. (Care and Maintenance). With this downgrading it seems very unlikely that there will be any significant conservation work undertaken in the future.

While we appreciate that HES resources are scarce, all we ask for is sufficient attention be given to Arbroath Abbey to allow all barriers and scaffolding to be removed safely. We all want to enjoy and appreciate the majesty and of this once great feat of architecture and its place in Scotland’s history.

In conclusion, we respectfully request HES and the Scottish Government fulfil their obligation to undertake their responsibility beyond Edinburgh and the Central Belt, by acknowledging that Scottish, heritage and culture flourishes across all of Scotland

31/03/2026

Abbot’s House Conservation

In 2025 HES organised and conducted scaffolding tours around the exterior of the Abbot's House. These tours provided the public with a birds eye view of the current condition of both the outside of the Abbot's House and its roof.
The scaffolding for the purpose of conservation work was erected in September 2023, to allow the necessary surveys to be undertaken safely. Permission to start the work was given in March 2025. However, no conservation on the external areas of the building has yet commenced as external work was suspended until spring 2026. As we are now in spring 2026, we anticipate the necessary conservation work on the Abbot's House to commence imminently.

02/03/2026

Arbroath Abbey -The Guesthouse

In medieval times most religious houses offered basic accommodation to relatives of monks, pilgrims and visitors. Arbroath Abbey was no exception.
In 1562 a special guest, Mary Queen of Scots, stayed at the Abbey during a Royal Progress. This was a ceremonial traditional tour taken by the reigning monarch to visit regions of the country to engage with local communities. Mary stayed in the Abbot's House where the accommodation was more comfortable and the surroundings more elegant.
The Guesthouse sits opposite the Abbot's House (see the photo looking over from the scaffolding). You will note that safety barriers surround the area, hence the need for a hard hat. The Guesthouse is next on HES' list for conservation work at Arbroath Abbey. However, the commencement of this work depends on budget and plentiful good dry weather.

18/02/2026

Arbroath Abbey - The Sacristy Door

Unfortunately the Sacristy door has been firmly closed since Covid times. For visitor protection, a secure fence was erected around the area.
In the meantime, Graeme Dey MSP shared a recent correspondence with HES. "In the coming months, we are concentrating on the areas around the Sacristy which, subject to completion of those repairs, would allow access to be restored before the end of March 2026."
Good news.

17/02/2026

Arbroath Abbey - The Sacristy
The Sacristy at Arbroath Abbey is famous for its acoustics. Over the years, people have come from near and far to sing and make music in this special place. Both a local lass and a duo of Italians nuns for example have visited to sing in the sacristy to celebrate the acoustics of Arbroath Abbey.

26/12/2025