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Admire the mausoleum of the Black Douglases, friends to Robert the Bruce and one of the most powerful noble families in 1300s Scotland.

A low-angle view of a church seen from within the graveyard. Weathered gravestones stand in the foreground, with the stone church and its clock tower visible on a cloudy day.

St Bride’s Church was built as the parish church of the town of Douglas, but it was not to remain a regular church.

Archibald ‘the Grim’, 3rd earl of Douglas, modified the church as a resting-place for his father, Sir James of Douglas, who died in 1330.

From then, the church became the mausoleum of the Black Douglas earls. Here you can find monumental effigies of the Douglas earls in three canopied tombs, while on the tower there’s the oldest known working clock in Scotland.

A close-up view of a stone clock tower, showing its roof, small arched windows, and a weather vane on top. A black and gold clock face with Roman numerals is mounted on the tower.
Carved stone tombs and monuments along the church walls, with a large stained-glass window at the back and a stone effigy in the centre.
A pathway leading to a metal gate, with a brown Historic Scotland sign reading “St. Bride’s Church” and an arrow pointing ahead. The area is surrounded by trees and stone walls.

Ready for an adventure?

Use a Membership or Explorer Pass to discover centuries of Scottish history and heritage, all while saving money and supporting our work.

Membership

Ideal for regular visitors and heritage supporters

Unlimited annual pass for all ticketed sites plus daytime events

Two adults, holding hands with two young children, walk through a graveyard, with historical stone ruins in the background. It is a sunny day.
  • Unlimited annual pass for all ticketed sites plus daytime events
  • Discount in our shops and cafés (on site and online)
  • Historic Scotland magazine delivered to your door
  • Free or discounted entry to sites in England, Wales and the Isle of Man

Explorer Pass

Perfect for short-term trips and sightseeing

Valid for 14 consecutive days

A family walking across a grassy lawn with the New Abbey Corn Mill building in the background.
  • Valid for 14 consecutive days
  • Entry to all ticketed sites, including Edinburgh Castle, Stirling Castle and Urquhart Castle
  • 20% discount on audio guides at Edinburgh Castle, Stirling Castle and Glasgow Cathedral
  • Guaranteed entry when you pre-book online