THE GARDENS OF NEWBATTLE ABBEY 
By A. D. RICHARDSON 
N EWBATTLE Abbey, the Midlothian 
seat of the Marquis of Lothian, is sit¬ 
uated amidst well-wooded and picturesque 
surroundings about seven miles southeast 
from the city of Edinburgh in the fertile 
valley through which the river South Esk 
flows. The present mansion is built on the 
site of the ancient conventual edifice of 
Newbattle, or Newbottle, little of which 
now remains with the exception of the Frat- 
ery, with its vaulted roof and central row 
of columns, and which is incorporated in 
the present building. The Monastery was 
founded by David 1 of Scotland in 1140 for 
a colony of Cistertian monks whom he 
brought from the neighboring Abbey of 
Melrose, and upon whom he conferred 
extensive lands and privileges. During 
the stormy periods that followed it passed 
through many vicissitudes. It was repeat¬ 
edly subjected to hostile attack by the 
English, and so completely was the work 
of demolition ultimately carried out that for 
centuries all traces of its existence, with the 
exception of the before-mentioned part, were 
completely obliterated. Within the last ten 
years, however, the whole of the foundations 
of the original building have been traced 
out. These show that the Abbey was of the 
usual type common to the Cistertian order 
of monks, with long nave, short choir, and 
central tower and transept. The total length 
of the interior was about 240 feet; the nave 
167 feet long by 57 feet wide (including the 
side aisles); the transept about 112 feet long 
by 28 feet wide. 
Mark Ker, the second son of Sir Andrew 
Iver of Cessford, was the first Commendator 
of Newbattle, and his son, Mark, obtained 
in 1587 from James VI of Scotland a grant 
THE GARDEN FRONT OF THE MANSION AT NEWBATTLE 
: 43 
