Newbattle Abbey College

Anna Hepburn as Mary, Queen of Scots

On 29 August visitors, both local and as far away as the Island of Iona, experienced the past coming to life at the Newbattle Abbey Storytelling Festival.  Scottish and local culture and history were celebrated through the art of storytelling in an exciting programme of events.  Newbattle Abbey has long played a pivotal, if little known, role in Scottish history and the Festival started with an introductory tour of Newbattle Abbey house.  Resident storyteller Rae McGhee, dressed as Lady Victoria Kerr, took everyone on a journey of nine centuries of exciting history in one hour. 

Donald Smith and Alette Willis led visitors on a storywalk around the Abbey grounds where they listened to many stories about the 18^th century ice-house, medieval mining, the ancient woodland and discovery of mass graves. 

Donald Smith enchants visitors on the Storywalk

Newbattle is not only associated with stories but also storytellers.  Catrina McGillivary recounted to a very avid audience the College’s connections with writers, poets and dramatists such as Edwin Muir, George Mackay Brown, W S Graham, Tom Scott and Bill Findlay.  Anna Hepburn delivered a resounding performance on the life of Mary, Queen of Scots in the Chapel.  Bea Ferguson hosted an inspiring workshop on an Introduction to Live Storytelling and Storytelling Skills.  One visitor lamented that one hour with Bea just simply was not long enough!!  Dr Neil Hargraves finished the day off with a tour de force lecture on Royal and significant events at Newbattle down the centuries such as the drafting of the Declaration of Arbroath and the story of the Solemn League and Covenant. 

In the evening, visitors gathered around the fireplace in the medieval Crypt and shared their own stories far into the night. The Festival was an ideal opportunity for people to sample the College’s part-time Contemporary Storytelling Course. For further information on the course contact Newbattle Abbey on 0131 663 1921; e-mail:

office@newbattleabbeycollege.ac.uk; www.newbattleabbeycollege.ac.uk.