[ Dunfermline Main Page ]

Saint Margaret

Malcolm Canmore, King Malcolm III, was the successor to Macbeth. Malcolm fell in love with Margaret, a Saxon princess and they married at the site of Dunfermline Abbey around 1070. They had eight children, the youngest being David, who was later to become King himself and bring Scotland into medieval Europe.

Queen Margaret did much to influence the religious and aristocratic complexion of Scotland. She forged links with the aristocracy of Europe and was responsible for the founding of many churches across Scotland, indeed the oldest building in Edinburgh today is St Margaret's Chapel.

To the south of Dunfermline, on the River Forth are the towns of North and South Queensferry, named after Queen Margaret who founded the towns to act as ferry ports, providing a route from the capital, Dunfermline to the increasingly important town of Edinburgh.

The most famous story of Queen Margaret is that of her worship in a small cave in the glen at Dunfermline. Legend has it that Margaret would often disappear from her court to worship privately at the cave. Her husband however, grew suspicious of her and fearing she had a lover followed her to the cave, only to find her kneeling in prayer for his safety.

It is possible to visit St Margaret's Cave today. Although it was built over, a tunnel was maintained and it can be accessed from the car park at the rear of the City Hotel.