THE RUINED ABBEY OF THE CANONS  IN EDINBURGH, SCOTLAND, WAS FOUNDED BY KING DAVID THE 1ST OF SCOTLAND IN 1128. IN THE 15TH CENTURY, THE ABBEY’S GUESTHOUSE WAS DEVELOPED INTO A ROYAL RESIDENCE. THEN LATER THE IN THE SCOTTISH REFORMATION, THE PALACE OF HOLYROODHOUSE WAS EXPANDED FURTHER

Rood is an old word for the cross which Jesus Christ was crucified upon; thus, the name Holyrood is equivalent to "Holy Cross."

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Legend says that in the year 1127, while King David the I  of Scotland, was hunting in the forests to the east of Edinburgh, during the Feast of the Cross. He was thrown from his horse. After it had been startled by a hart. According to variations of the story, the king was saved from being attacked, by the charging animal. The animal was startled either by the miraculous appearance of a holy cross descending from the skies. Or by sunlight reflected from a crucifix. Which suddenly appeared between the hart's antlers, while the king attempted to grasp them in self-defence. As an act of thanksgiving for his escape, David I founded Holyrood Abbey on the site in 1128.

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Robert the Bruce held parliament here. There is evidence that Holyrood was being used as a royal residence by as early as 1329.

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All that survives of the rebuilt church, today  is the nave. This was spared at the Protestant Reformation in 1560 because it served as the parish church of Canongate, the next burgh. The choir and transepts were destroyed in 1570.