a town of Scotland, in the county of Selkirk, and on the confines of Tweedale, seated on the south side of the river Tweed; with an ancient abbey, now in ruins. W. Long. 2. 32. N. Lat. 55° 32'.

This abbey was founded by King David I. in 1136. He peopled it with Cistercians brought from Rivale abbey in Yorkshire, and dedicated it to the Virgin Mary. At the Reformation James Douglas was appointed commendator, who took down much of the building, in order to furnish materials for a large house to himself, which still remains, and is dated 1590. Nothing is left of the abbey excepting a part of the cloister wall elegantly carved; but the ruins of the church are of most uncommon beauty. The sculpture is excellent, and the figures generally in good preservation. A few years ago the parish church was removed from the abbey, and a new church built at some distance from it.

The rents of this abbey at the Reformation were, in money £144l. 15s. 4d. wheat, 19 ch. 9 bolls, bear 77 ch. 3 bolls, meal 14 ch., oats 47 ch. 1 boll, butter 105 stone, salt 8 ch., capons 104, poultry 520, peats 340 load. These measures are one-third more than the standard. Alexander II. was buried beneath the great altar, and it is also the place of interment of the Douglasses and other potent families.—Its situation is extremely pleasant.