Edinburgh - Holyrood Abbey

The history of the palace and abbey began with a small chapel on the rock. Queen Margaret, canonized in 1251 and named as Scotland's patron saint, died here in 1093. She possessed a sacred crucifix ("holy rood") that was said to have been made of wood from Jesus' cross and the Augustine abbey that her son David I founded here in 1128 was probably named after this relic.

About 1220 the monastery church underwent considerable extension and was further added to during the 13th and 14th century. Badly damaged on more than one occasion, it deteriorated towards the end of the 18th century and the central nave is now all that remains of the medieval abbey. David II, James II and his wife, James V and Lord Darnley are all buried in the church.