Abbeys -- Scotland; Cathedrals -- Scotland; Church architecture -- Scotland
The great western doorway, a good example of Norman work, remains
unaltered, and consists of five orders, having alternately round and
octagonal shafts, chiefly with cushion caps, but some are ornamented
with scrolls. The abacus is heavy, and is carved with sunk diapers.
The orders are continued round the arches, and contain chevron
ornaments (much decayed), rosettes, and diapers.[342] The outer
order contains large heads and geometric figures in the alternate
voussoirs--an arrangement similar to that of Whithorn and Dalmeny,
where the geometric figures also resemble those adopted here.[343]
The _original_ north doorway, partly concealed by Schaw's porch, is
similar in design, with the addition of an arcade above the arch,
resembling but still plainer than that over the doorway of Dalmeny
Church. The south doorway of the church is of late work, and there
appears to have been another south doorway at the east end of the
nave, but it is now built up.[344] The whole of the aisle walls are
arcaded in the interior up to the height of the window sills, but
the arcade has been partly cut away for monuments. The general
design of the nave recalls that of Durham Cathedral, and Dr. Joseph
Robertson remarks, "Though not of great size, the sombre masses of
the (nave) interior are impressive. The English visitor will remark
more than one point of resemblance to Durham and Lindisfarne; and
there is no violence in the conjecture that the same head may have
planned, or the same hands have hewn, part of all the three. We know
that when the foundations of Durham were laid in 1093 by the
confessor and biographer of St. Margaret, her husband Malcolm was
present; and when the new church received the relics of St.
Cuthbert in 1104, her son Alexander witnessed the rites."[345] Both
at Durham and Dunfermline there are the same circular piers with
zig-zag ornaments, and massive cushion caps and clustered piers
occur in each. The small circular bases, resting on great square
plinths, are also common to both. The triforium and clerestory are
simple in design, and the aisles are vaulted and groined. The
windows of the aisles are single round-headed lights, having plain
sconsions, with one recessed shaft on each side, and the arch
enriched with chevron mouldings.[346] Internally and externally they
are of similar design.
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