The Abbey Museum, Iona: Across Time, Iona, Argyll & Bute, Scotland.
Posted by: greysman
N 56° 20.117 W 006° 23.459
29V E 661285 N 6246453
Laid out as a time line, this museum helps to interpret the important place that Iona has in Christian belief in Europe and the wider world, and the great monuments of Iona.
Waymark Code: WMHZER
Location: Northern Scotland, United Kingdom
Date Posted: 08/31/2013
Views: 2
This small but important museum is housed in the rebuilt Abbey Infirmary. The displays were updated in 2012 to celebrate the 1450th anniversary of the arrival of St Columba to Iona, and was carried out by Historic Scotland which drew upon new research and findings from the Iona Research Conference 2012.
The museum building is on the site of the old abbey infirmary and is located to the north-east of the main Abbey buildings. Originally of two storey construction it fell into disrepair and was virtually abandoned to the elements but as part of the revival and thanks to the hard work of the Iona Community it has been rebuilt to house the priceless artifacts placed therein. These include the pieces of the original St.Oran's, St.John's and St.Matthew's High Crosses, several carved coffin lids, and a facsimile of the Book of Kells which is now believed to have been written here on Iona before being taken to Kells in Ireland for safekeeping during the time of the Viking raids on Iona.
Other important pieces are on display some of which are described in the following link:- abbey museum
The admission prices are for the whole of the abbey grounds. Admission to the Abbey for services is not charged, services are held daily at 9.00pm and at other times as advertised. No admission time to the museum is shown on the entry plaque as it is considered part of the whole Abbey complex.
The food court and shop can be found off the cloisters.