Coldingham Priory and Community Garden (2008 to present)

A scheme for the conservation and interpretation of Coldingham Priory ruins, and the creation of a community garden within the grounds.

This important, and much needed, project has been developed by a partnership including Tweed Forum, the Friends of Coldingham Priory, Scottish Borders Council and Archaeology Scotland. Nearly half a million pounds has been raised from a range of different sources including the Heritage Lottery fund, Historic Scotland, Scottish Borders Council and SNH. The partnership has recently appointed an architect and contractors are in the process of being selected to carry out the work. The first stage will be the landscaping of the Community Garden in January 2009.

The garden will reflect its historic setting with planting of flowering shrubs and small, old varieties of fruit trees where the monks would have grown fruit, vegetables, medicinal herbs and kept bees. These areas will attract butterflies and the local primary school will also use it as an eco-resource. A circular stone seat with the cross of St Cuthbert marked out in Caithness stone will be a central feature. Coldingham Priory has been called the Cinderella of the Border abbeys and whilst the restored choir is in incorporated in the still used medieval church, the ruins around about are in urgent need of consolidation as they are crumbling and collapsing in places. Whilst a very significant structure in its day there is little to bring its scale and importance alive and the planned interpretation will rectify this. The planned conservation measures will include the careful consolidation of the ruined structures and the special treatment of the unique and unusual collection of carved stones.

A series of educational workshops and other activities for children and adults will take place alongside the conservation work. The first is likely to be a local history event in late January when members of the public will be invited to search their cupboards for old maps, photos, drawings or other mementoes of the Priory or village history.