16th centuries, which is the best preserved of its type in Scotland. In the summer of 2001, a new visitors' centre was opened to the public beside the Abbey's west front. This red sandstone-clad building, with its distinctive 'wave-shaped' organic roof, planted with sedum, houses displays on the history of the Abbey and some of the best surviving stonework and other relics. The upper storey features a scale model of the Abbey complex, a computer-generated 'fly-through' reconstruction of the church as it was when complete, and a viewing gallery with excellent views of the ruins. The centre won the 2002 Angus Design Award. An archaeological investigation of the site of the visitors' centre before building started revealed the foundations of the medieval precinct wall, with a gateway, and stonework discarded during manufacture, showing that the area was the site of the masons' yard while the Abbey was being built. See also Abbot of Arbroath, for a list of abbots and commendators 1950 removal of the Stone of Scone References External links Undiscovered Scotland's detailed history https://web.archive.org/web/20140220180351/http://www.angus.gov.uk/history/features/buildings/arbabbey.htm http://www.arbroathabbeypageant.com 2002 Angus Design Award 1178 establishments 12th century in Scotland Christian monasteries established in the 12th century Buildings and structures in Angus, Scotland History of Angus, Scotland Tironensian monasteries Category A listed buildings in Angus, Scotland Listed monasteries in Scotland Former Christian monasteries in Scotland Arbroath Thomas Becket