Kilwinning Abbey

The Kilwinning Abbey ( German: Kilwinning Abbey ) is a former Benedictine abbey in the Scottish town of Kilwinning in North Ayrshire Unitary Authority. In 1971 the ruins were included in the Scottish lists of monuments in the highest category A monument. In addition, the facility is classified as a Scheduled Monument.

History

Identity and origin of the Holy Winning is not yet clear. It could I be an ethnic Irish monk named Wynnin, Finnian or financing. Other sources speak of a Scottish or Welsh origin. This is said to have built a church at the site of the future monastery in the 6th century. The founding of the monastery dates back to Richard de Morville and is dated around the year 1162. By the end of the century, the construction of the facilities was already far advanced, but was then canceled. Another construction phase at the beginning of the following century was probably never fully executed.

The history of the monastery was relatively uneventful in the following centuries. Around 1530 there lived 16 monks. As part of the Scottish Reformation in 1560, a Protestant group led by the Earl of Argyll, Arran and Glencairn drove the remaining monks. With the exception of the abbey church, which served as a parish church until the construction of a replacement building in 1775, the investments fell from that date and were at least since 1591 in a ruinous state.

Description

The former monastery is located in the center of Kilwinning. There are only get a few wall fragments. These include a fragment of Südgiebels of the transept of the abbey church with three lancet windows and the overlying recess for a rose window. Furthermore, the entrance to the chapter house is available at the west side with a longer piece of wall. Architecturally significant parallels to the sister monasteries Kelso Abbey Arbroath Abbey and are recognizable.