Although its name suggests a larger foundation, Abbey St. Bathans was originally a priory of Cistercian Nuns. It was sanctified and then used as a retreat by the sisters who formed the community at Haddington and at Nunraw, under the patronage of Ada, Countess of Dunbar and her husband Patrick, Earl of Dunbar.
Though the original location of the monastic accommodation is unknown today, there is a stone on one side of the glen known as the Abbey Stone. While there are no religious houses in the village today, there is a small church in the square. A clergyman is shared with nearby hamlet of Longformacus. The dedication is to St. Bathan—Baithéne mac Brénaind—the second abbot of Iona.
In the mid 1960's a deposit or "midden" was found by the existing church, on the river bank where such a "tip" would logically be located. This contained many shards of pottery which were identified as mediaeval by the Royal Scottish Museum, Edinburgh. This suggests that the Monastery was located in the riverside meadow area around the existing church and a dig would probably reveal some of the structure. This deposit was discovered and excavated by Mrs. E. K. Robb, whose family used to holiday in the farm.
The majority of the surrounding land is owned by various members of the Dobie family—the oldest brother being the Laird of the demesne.
Some of the woodland has been used by the Forestry Commission at various times, but now this is not the case.
The village
The village proper is based around 'The Square', where the church, a telephone and some houses are located. There is also a small youth hostel which is popular with walkers. Abbey St. Bathans is situated beside the Whiteadder Water and is on the Southern Upland Way.
Another local attraction is The Riverside, a small restaurant further down river. It is located next to a fish farm.
Nearby are the remains of the historic, Edin's Hall Broch —an Iron Age defensive structure.
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