The ruins, though much dilapidated, are extensive, and belong to a fine period of Scottish Gothic, of which comparatively few examples survive. The conventual buildings have been almost entirely demolished and carried off as building materials, only a small portion of the chapter house and some foundations of walls still remaining. The church, however, is complete in all its divisions, although the roof is gone and the walls are much damaged. It comprises ([Fig. 756]) a choir without aisles, a nave with two side aisles, north and south transepts (with eastern chapels opening off them), and a square tower over the crossing. A level field, extending to about twenty acres, called the Precinct, surrounds the abbey, and is still partly enclosed with a strong wall built with large blocks of granite.
The monastery derives its name of New Abbey from having been founded a considerable time after Dundrennan Abbey,[128] in the same county, which was regarded as the Old Abbey.
Fig. 756.—New Abbey, or Sweetheart Abbey. Plan.
Sweetheart Abbey was inhabited by Cistercian monks, and dedicated to the Virgin. The founder was Devorgilla, daughter of Allan, Lord of Galloway, and mother of King John Baliol. Her husband was John Baliol of Castle Barnard, in Yorkshire. When he died, in 1269, his wife had his heart embalmed and placed in an ivory coffin, which she carried about with her, and, finally, at her death in 1289, at the age of 76, it was buried with her in a grave in front of the high altar of the abbey—hence the touching name of Sweetheart Abbey. The institution was richly endowed by Devorgilla, who had abundant means. She was the foundress of Balliol College, Oxford; and by her the old bridge over the Nith at Dumfries was erected, portions of which still survive.
The date of the foundation of the abbey is 1275. The names of many of the abbots are preserved, but they do not seem to have been specially distinguished, except the last, Gilbert Brown, who maintained the doctrines of Romanism in a written controversy with the well-known reformer, John Welsh, of Ayr. The abbot was afterwards exiled, and died at Paris in 1612.
In the sixteenth century the monks found it necessary to place themselves under the protection of a powerful layman. They therefore adopted the plan then common, and, in 1544-48, feued the Barony of Lochpatrick and other property to Lord Maxwell, and made him heritable bailie of the whole of their lands.
The property became vested in the Crown by the Annexation Act of 1587, and, in 1624, it was granted to Sir R. Spottiswood. Since that time it has passed through the hands of several proprietors. At the Reformation the records of the monastery were lost, having been either destroyed or carried abroad by the monks.[129]
During last century the buildings suffered great dilapidation, but towards the close of the century, by the exertions of the parish minister and some of the gentry of the neighbourhood, the structure was saved from further demolition, and put in a proper state of repair.[130] Since that time it has been still further repaired, and is now in good preservation.