Abbeys -- Scotland; Cathedrals -- Scotland; Church architecture -- Scotland
crossing are of equal size--an unusual arrangement, as the nave is
generally the longest division of the church. This was part of the
original design, as the western doorway is one of the most
prominently Norman portions of the edifice, and no satisfactory
explanation has yet been given of the shortness of the Kelso nave.
The upper portion of the west front has been in the transitional
style, and the Norman arcading, which runs round the interior of the
nave, was continued across the west end.
The nave, north and south transepts, contain each four stories in
height, consisting of an interlacing arcade of Norman work in the
interior of the ground level, and three stories of windows above.
The upper arcades of the choir do not extend round the nave and
transepts, except in a portion of the south transept. The windows in
the different stories have all round arches, both inside and
outside, and the exterior is marked at each angle by broad and
shallow Norman buttresses, with nook shafts in the angles, and an
interlacing arcade round the lower story, both internally and
externally. In the facades of the west end and north transept the
windows of the different stories have been grouped so as to form
distinct designs. "In the west end, over the great west doorway,
there has been an arrangement of tall windows of apparently lancet
form, having on either side an interlacing arcade of round arches,
supported on tall, bended shafts. This is now, unfortunately,
greatly destroyed. Above the arcade there runs a horizontal flat
cornice, enriched with several rows of carved ornaments, and this
was surmounted by a large opening of quatrefoil shape, surrounded
with numerous mouldings and enrichments. The angle buttresses have
been crowned with octagonal turrets."[424]
The north wall of the north transept has a fine transitional
door-piece, occupying the two lower stories. The next two stories
have each two windows, separated by a small buttress, and the upper
story has three arches in the interior. "Above these stories is a
small circular window with a curious saving arch over it, and the
whole is crowned with a top story, containing three round-headed
openings, and a gable with a small circular aperture. The buttresses
at the angles are crowned with circular turrets, which have been
finished with a projecting parapet, the corbels for carrying which
still survive. The upper part of the gable shows signs of having
been altered."[425]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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