Kelso Abbey was founded by David I, King of Scots and dedicated to the Virgin Mary and St John the Evangelist on 2nd May 1128. The Order of Reformed Benedictine monks came from Tiron, near the famous cathedral town of Chartres in France. The Abbey grew very wealthy, resulting in great influence over the religious and secular life of the Scottish nation. Its proximity to the strategically important fortress of Roxburgh Castle meant that the fabric of the building suffered from many destructive raids over the centuries, culminating in a major bombardment when the English king, Henry VIII, sent his forces to destroy every important building in the Borders