What lies beneath the rose-coloured stones of Melrose Abbey? Founded in 1136 by King David I and the Cistercian monks, this magnificent Scottish Borders ruin has witnessed nine centuries of war, faith, folklore — and the extraordinary story of Robert the Bruce's heart, buried here after a crusade to the Holy Land.

In this episode, we explore the full hidden history of one of Scotland's most iconic medieval ruins: the Wars of Scottish Independence, the brutal English raids, an abbey destroyed and rebuilt again and again, and the remarkable Gothic architecture that rose from those ashes. We also uncover the darker legends — including the tale of the Hunderprest, one of Britain's earliest documented vampire myths — and ask why a bagpipe-playing pig is carved into the abbey walls.

Whether you're planning a visit to the Scottish Borders, fascinated by Scottish history, or simply love a good ghost story, this episode has something for you.

For photographs and more information, please see the website https://thistleandtime.scot

Music credits

Emotional Piano Improvisation by Alexander Nakarada (CreatorChords) | https://creatorchords.com

Royalty Free Music by https://www.free-stock-music.com

Creative Commons / Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

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Sky by Alex-Productions | https://onsound.eu/

Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com

Creative Commons / Attribution 3.0 Unported License (CC BY 3.0)

https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US

Echoes of Rain by Ethereal 88 | https://ethereal88.bandcamp.com

Royalty Free Music by https://www.free-stock-music.com

I walk with Ghosts by Scott Buckley | https://soundcloud.com/scottbuckley

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Creative Commons / Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/