Newbattle Abbey
Newbattle Abbey near Dalkeith in Midlothian is a historic abbey building that has served as Scotland's residential college for adult education since 1937, making it one of the most distinctive educational institutions in Scotland and a continuing living use for a building of considerable historical significance. The abbey was founded by King David I as a Cistercian monastery in 1140 and was one of the most important monasteries in medieval Scotland. The buildings were substantially rebuilt in the seventeenth century after the Reformation destroyed much of the medieval fabric. Notable alumni of Newbattle Abbey College include Hugh MacDiarmid, one of the most important Scottish poets of the twentieth century, and the college continues to provide life-changing educational opportunities for adults returning to learning in a unique and historic environment.