This is the only abbey I know of where a nun is buried in a male dominated society. She is possibly a nun called Blache, from Linduden Nunnery, who was removed from there along with her sisters when the Douglases rebuilt Linduden Nunnery as a collegiate church in the early fifteenth century.

Dundrennan Abbey was founded in 1142 pobably by David 1 or Fergus, Lord of Galloway, historians cannot agree, although it is likely David 1 influenced the arrival of the Cistercians or white monks.

Few records of the history of Dundrennan Abbey survive but the architectural style and cross referencing of known abbots link the abbey to Rievaulx Abbey in Yorkshire, England.

On the 15th May 1568 Mary Queen of Scots was welcomed to Dundrennan Abbey by Edward Maxwell, following her defeat at Langside. From here she fled to her cousin, Elizabeth 1 of England for help to regain her throne, alas, it proved to be her last day on Scottish soil.

The abbey become the mother house of both Glenluce Abbey (Vallis Lucis) in 1191, off the A75 near Stranraer, and Sweetheart Abbey (Dulce Cor) in 1273, on the A710 near Dumfries, founded by Roland, Lord of Galloway and Devorgilla, Lady of Galloway, respectively.