Kilwinning Abbey

The nunnery was devoted to Saint Winning and the Virgin Mary, and established at some point in the vicinity of 1162 and 1188 with priests originating from Kelso. The supporter isn't known for certain, however it might have been Richard de Morville, Lord of Cunninghame and Great Constable of Scotland, maybe with the sponsorship and help of King William of Scotland.

A story built up that another Sir Richard de Morville who was engaged with the murder of Thomas a Becket was the originator of the monastery, however regardless of the probability of the families being the same, the dates of the occasions make this association unimaginable. An association that exists is the establishing of Arbroath Abbey in 1178, likewise a Tironensian monastery, in memory of Thomas a Becket by William the Lion 1165– 1214.