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Situated just off the A950 at Mintlaw in Aberdeenshire Deer Abbey was a Cistercian House. It was founded in 1219 by William Comyn who was the Earl of Buchan. Deer Abbey was dedicated to the Blessed Virgin St Mary. The Monks came from the nearby Cistercian house of Kinlose Abbey in Moray and were absorbed into an existing community of secular priests (clerici) at Deer. William Comyn was buried at Deer Abbey.
Prior to this there was an earlier Monastic Order of Celtic origin dedicated to Saint Drostan. St Drostan was a disciple of Saint Columba. It was famed for the Medieval manuscript, the Book of Deer, a precious relic of this early Church which is described as a pocket gospel book. The Book of Deer was thought to have been written in the mid 10th century and was certainly in use and traceable back to the 12th century. Gaelic notes record the granting of the land to the clerici and the foundation legend of the Columban monastery.
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My new novel:
The Aberdeen skies are under attack from an enemy jet. It is spilling a strange yellow smoke. Minutes later, people start killing each other.
Former Royal Air Force Regiment Gunner Jason Harper witnesses this and then his wife, Pippa, telephones him, shouting that she needs him. They then get cut off. He sets straight out, unprepared for the nightmare that unfolds during his journey. Everyone seems to want to kill him.
Along the way, he pairs up with fellow survivor Imogen. But she enjoys killing the living dead far too much. Will she kill Jason in her blood thirst? Or will she hinder his journey through this zombie filled dystopian landscape to find his pregnant wife?
The Fence is the first in this series of post-apocalyptic military survival thrillers from the torturous mind of local horror and science fiction novel writer C.G. Buswell.
Download Now.
Buy the Paperback.
As can be seen in the Deer Abbey photo it is now mostly ruinous. Deer Abbey is now owned by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Aberdeen and maintained and preserved by Historic Scotland.
In 1587 the land came to the ownership of Lord Altrie (Robert Keith) and the DeerAbbey buildings fell to ruin. Much of this has to do with the Reformations of the earlier period of 1560 when the monastery fell into local use rather than being used as a religious building. Stones were robbed by locals to use in the building of their own homes. This continued for centuries until a mausoleum was erected in the East end of the church in 1854. This was later removed. In 1926 Deer Abbey came into the ownership of the Catholic Diocese of Aberdeen and in 1933 it was place into the care of the Secretary of State for Scotland.
As can be seen in the Deer Abbey photos on this page all that now remains of the church is the foundations. The Abbot's House, the Southern cloister range and the infirmary are a little better preserved. Other areas include the West Range, the site of Lay Brother's Quarters, the Cellars with Monastic Refectory, Chapel, Presbytery, Infirmary, Abbot's House, Latrines, Chapter House, Kitchen, Chapels and Dorter.
A ghostly monk has been seen on the main road next to the Abbey site. Though his face has never been seen, witnesses have described him as wearing a dark robe with a hood. Unfortunately no-one who has seen the ghost of Deer Abbey has been able to take a photograph.
More ghost stories from Aberdeenshire.
Have you seen my beautiful golden retriever Lynne out and about in Aberdeen? Ask her for a high-five! She's a Bravehound PTSD assistance dog, so we'll often be in shops, restaurants, and the cinema together.
We've written a book where I talk about growing up in Aberdeen and then joining the army to be a medic and nurse, and developing military Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.
I also talk about losing my son to suicide and the therapy I have had at Royal Cornhill Hospital and grief support groups in Aberdeen.
The author, Damien Lewis, said of Lynne:
"A powerful account of what one dog means to one man on his road to recovery. Both heart-warming and life-affirming. Bravo Chris and Lynne. Bravo Bravehound."
Download.
Buy the paperback.
An army veteran moves his family back to his Aberdeenshire home, but his nightmare neighbour starts a battle of wits with him. Who will win this One Last War?
Buy this latest novel by local author C.G. Buswell on Kindle or Paperback.
Advertise Here from just £70.
Here are more photographs of Deer Abbey. If there is a particular picture you would like to see then please contact me using the details to the left of this page.
Deer Abbey
Situated just off the A950 at Mintlaw in Aberdeenshire Deer Abbey was a Cistercian House. It was founded in 1219 by William Comyn who was the Earl of Buchan. Deer Abbey was dedicated to the Blessed Virgin St Mary. The Monks came from the nearby Cistercian house of Kinlose Abbey in Moray and were absorbed into an existing community of secular priests (clerici) at Deer. William Comyn was buried at Deer Abbey. Prior to this there was an earlier Monastic Order of Celtic origin dedicated to Saint Drostan. St Drostan was a disciple of Saint Columba. It was famed for the Medieval manuscript, the Book of Deer, a precious relic of this early Church which is described as a pocket gospel book. The Book of Deer was thought to have been written in the mid 10th century and was certainly in use and traceable back to the 12th century. Gaelic notes record the granting of the land to the clerici and the foundation legend of the Columban monastery. Follow us on: Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.
Contact Me.
My new novel:
The Aberdeen skies are under attack from an enemy jet. It is spilling a strange yellow smoke. Minutes later, people start killing each other.
Former Royal Air Force Regiment Gunner Jason Harper witnesses this and then his wife, Pippa, telephones him, shouting that she needs him. They then get cut off. He sets straight out, unprepared for the nightmare that unfolds during his journey. Everyone seems to want to kill him.
Along the way, he pairs up with fellow survivor Imogen. But she enjoys killing the living dead far too much. Will she kill Jason in her blood thirst? Or will she hinder his journey through this zombie filled dystopian landscape to find his pregnant wife?
The Fence is the first in this series of post-apocalyptic military survival thrillers from the torturous mind of local horror and science fiction novel writer C.G. Buswell.
Download Now.
Buy the Paperback.
As can be seen in the Deer Abbey photo it is now mostly ruinous. Deer Abbey is now owned by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Aberdeen and maintained and preserved by Historic Scotland.
The History Of Deer Abbey
In 1587 the land came to the ownership of Lord Altrie (Robert Keith) and the DeerAbbey buildings fell to ruin. Much of this has to do with the Reformations of the earlier period of 1560 when the monastery fell into local use rather than being used as a religious building. Stones were robbed by locals to use in the building of their own homes. This continued for centuries until a mausoleum was erected in the East end of the church in 1854. This was later removed. In 1926 Deer Abbey came into the ownership of the Catholic Diocese of Aberdeen and in 1933 it was place into the care of the Secretary of State for Scotland. As can be seen in the Deer Abbey photos on this page all that now remains of the church is the foundations. The Abbot's House, the Southern cloister range and the infirmary are a little better preserved. Other areas include the West Range, the site of Lay Brother's Quarters, the Cellars with Monastic Refectory, Chapel, Presbytery, Infirmary, Abbot's House, Latrines, Chapter House, Kitchen, Chapels and Dorter. The Ghost Of Deer Abbey
A ghostly monk has been seen on the main road next to the Abbey site. Though his face has never been seen, witnesses have described him as wearing a dark robe with a hood. Unfortunately no-one who has seen the ghost of Deer Abbey has been able to take a photograph. More ghost stories from Aberdeenshire.
Have you seen my beautiful golden retriever Lynne out and about in Aberdeen? Ask her for a high-five! She's a Bravehound PTSD assistance dog, so we'll often be in shops, restaurants, and the cinema together.
We've written a book where I talk about growing up in Aberdeen and then joining the army to be a medic and nurse, and developing military Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.
I also talk about losing my son to suicide and the therapy I have had at Royal Cornhill Hospital and grief support groups in Aberdeen.
The author, Damien Lewis, said of Lynne:
"A powerful account of what one dog means to one man on his road to recovery. Both heart-warming and life-affirming. Bravo Chris and Lynne. Bravo Bravehound."
Download.
Buy the paperback.
An army veteran moves his family back to his Aberdeenshire home, but his nightmare neighbour starts a battle of wits with him. Who will win this One Last War?
Buy this latest novel by local author C.G. Buswell on Kindle or Paperback.
Advertise Here from just £70.
Photographs of Deer Abbey
Here are more photographs of Deer Abbey. If there is a particular picture you would like to see then please contact me using the details to the left of this page.
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