Melrose Cross - Melrose, Scotland

Melrose is small town in the Scottish Borders located in the ancient kingdom of Northumbria, which covered the area of modern southern Scotland and northern England. The town's name is recorded in its earliest form as Mailros, ‘the bare peninsula' referring to the original site of the monastery, in a bend of the river Tweed. Melrose is the location of Melrose Abbey, re-founded for the Cistercian order by David I in the early 12th century, one of the most beautiful monastic ruins in Great Britain. In 1322 Melrose abbey and the town that had grown up around it were attacked by the English army of Edward II. Much of the abbey was destroyed and many monks were killed. The subsequent rebuilding was helped greatly by the generosity of Scottish king Robert the Bruce. This link was later formally recognized when Robert's embalmed heart, encased in lead, was buried at Melrose Abbey. The Melrose cross uses the “Tree of Life" motif which was a favorite of that time. It was always shown as growing from a pot.

10.25" x 5.5" : Cast Stone, Celtic Art Collection, Made in the U.S.A.