Melrose Abbey and the mystery of Robert the Bruce's heart

The 1996 summer archeological excavations of the Chapter House floor of Melrose Abbey undertaken by Historic Scotland were designed to increase knowledge of this important medieval building.

On Monday the 3rd of September the team from Historic Scotland investigated the lead container said to contain King Robert the Bruce's heart which had been removed from beneath the Chapter House floor the previous week.

Under laboratory conditions a small hole was drilled into the casket and the interior investigated by a fibre-optic cable. This larger casket was then carefully opened: inside was another small conical lead casket, and an engraved copper plaque inscribed;

"The enclosed leaden casket containing a heart was found beneath Chapter House floor, March 1921, by His Majesty's Office of Works"

The smaller conical casket is about 10 inches high and 4 inches in diameter at the base tapering to a flat top about one and a half inches in diameter. Despite being pitted with age it was in remarkably good condition.

Richard Welander, one of the investigating team from Historic Scotland, said that although it was not possible to prove absolutely that it is Bruce's heart, "We can say that it is reasonable to assume that it is". There are no records of anyone else's heart being buried at Melrose.

The casket containing the heart was not opened and was buried again at Melrose Abbey in 1997.

About the life of Robert the Bruce

• Son of Robert Bruce, Earl of Carrick and Annandale, and Marjorie, Countess of Carrick.
• Born in 1274, was 31 when he became king, he died in 1329 in Cardross (probably of leprosy).
• Married Isabella of Mar and then Elizabeth de Burgh. Their son was King David II.
• King Edward I of England regarded him as a traitor.
• Edward's commander in Scotland, the Earl of Pembroke defeated him in 1306 at Methven near Perth and he hid amongst the hills and forests. At this time, when all seemed hopeless he saw a spider constantly remaking its web in a cave in which he was hiding. This was the moment at which he vowed to keep trying to free Scotland from the English.
• Three of his brothers were executed by Edward.
• With the help of Edward Bruce, Thomas Randolph and Sir James Douglas (the famous "Black Douglas" whose name was used by English mothers to threaten discipline to their children. Thus: "If you dont do such and such, the wicked Black Douglas will come and get you") he gradually and courageously recaptured Scottish castles and land from the English.
• Edward II advanced on Bruce's army with 20,000 soldiers.
• At Bannockburn, near Stirling, on the 24 June 1314, Bruce's army defeated the English who then fled south of the border.
• When he died in 1329 his body was buried at Dunfermline. His heart was removed and taken on the Crusades by the Black Douglas (Sir James), who, just before he was killed in Moorish Spain had hurled it at the enemy.
• The heart was recovered and taken back to Melrose Abbey where the new king, David II (Bruce's son), had asked for it to be buried.

Related Pages:
Article on Melrose Abbey
William Wallace's Statue
The Douglases and Threave Castle

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