Inchmahome there was a church on the island before the priory was established. The priory has a long history of receiving many notable guests. King Robert the Bruce visited three times, in 1306, 1308 and 1310. His visits were likely politically motivated, as the first abbot had sworn allegiance to Edward I, the English King. In 1358 the future King Robert II also stayed at the priory. In 1547 the priory served as a refuge for Mary, Queen of Scots, aged four, hidden here for a few weeks following the disastrous defeat of the Scots army at the Battle of Pinkie
German submarine U-1306 . "U-1306" was fitted with five torpedo tubes (four fitted at the bow and one at the stern), fourteen torpedoes, one SK C/35 naval gun, (220 rounds), one Flak M42 and two C/30 anti-aircraft guns. The boat had a complement of between forty-four and fifty-two. "U-1306" was mounted with two 2cm Flak C38 in a M 43U "Zwilling" mount with short folding shield on the upper "Wintergarten". The M 43U mount was used on a number of U-boats (, , , , , , , , and ). "U-1306" was one of only ten Type VIICs to be fitted with