it takes its northern bend. There is a narrow pathway in front of this
apartment, giving access to it. The path is protected from the cliff by
a parapet wall returned at the south end, where there is a shot hole.
This parapet has gone on to join the buildings at the prior’s house.
The parish church of Blantyre stood in a village of the same name, and
belonged to the priory, which is said to have been founded for Austin
canons, and endowed with the tithes and revenues of the parish church,
by Alexander II. Spottiswoode asserts that Blantyre was a cell depending
on Holyrood. In _Bagimond’s Roll_ (1275), it is valued at £66, 13s. 4d.
Chalmers states that this small monastery was founded by Alexander II.
for canons regular brought from Jedburgh, and that the monks of Jedburgh
retired here during the war with England.
The barony belonged to the Dunbars as far back as 1368. Walter Stewart,
son of the Laird of Minto, was made commendator by James VI., and the
Barony of Blantyre was erected, in 1606, into a temporal lordship in his
favour, with the title of Lord Blantyre.