The ecclesiastical architecture of Scotland from the earliest Christian times to the seventeenth century; vol. 1/3MacGibbon, David
History
The ecclesiastical architecture of Scotland from the earliest Christian times to the seventeenth century; vol. 1/3
MacGibbon, David
Church architecture -- Scotland
imposing, with the simple row of lofty buttresses and windows along the
top. The west gable wall of the refectory (Fig. 217) is still entire,
and has a large window of seven lights. The tracery of this
[Illustration: FIG. 212.--Dunfermline Abbey. North Aisle.]
window is in good preservation (Fig. 218), and is one of the most
favourable examples of a kind of tracery developed in Scotland during
the fifteenth century. At the north-west corner of the refectory is the
staircase tower (see Fig. 217), which leads down to the offices below,
and upwards to the refectory roof, over which access was obtained to the
upper
[Illustration: FIG. 213.--Dunfermline Abbey. Exterior of Aisle and
Clerestory Windows.]
story of the “Pend Tower.” In the north wall of the refectory, near the
west end, are the remains of a flue, which may have belonged to a
fireplace. The “Pend Tower” is still entire, wanting only the cape house
and roof. It served as a connecting passage between the abbey buildings
and the royal palace beyond. A door led from the refectory (see Plan,
Fig. 219) by a passage into a groined chamber, and from thence into a
room in the palace situated over the kitchen. The kitchen is a lofty
room, now roofless, having remains of large fireplaces and some curious
recesses. Below the kitchen, but entering from another part of the
palace, there is a large vaulted apartment with central pillars. (Fig.
220.) These pillars were continued up through the kitchen, and probably
to the room, now gone, which stood over the kitchen. Another arched
passage led from this apartment through below St. Catherine’s Wynd and
up to the monastery. The building known as the palace was, doubtless,
intimately connected with the monastery, and the kitchen shown on the
plan may have been used in connection with both.
Returning to the vaulted chamber in the “Pend Tower,” a long narrow
vaulted passage leads from it along the refectory wall for the length of
two bays. It is vaulted across from side to side for the length of the
first bay, and then in the second bay one half-arch springs at right
[Illustration: FIG. 214.--Dunfermline Abbey. The Lady Chapel.]
angles to the first arch from the end of the passage to meet the cross
vault. This probably indicates that steps lead down in the passage to
the level of the rooms below the refectory. But the place cannot be
properly seen, being chocked full with the grass and rubbish thrown in
from the churchyard. This passage is a very effective feature, as seen
from the outside. It is supported on arches thrown from buttress to
buttress, and is covered with a stone roof above (see Fig. 216).
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