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
This ornament extends along the six eastmost bays of the nave, the two
westmost bays having a plain parapet on the same level. On the south
side of the nave the aisle wall has been raised with red ashlar (like
the choir south wall), and an ordinary parapet placed above it.
The buttresses in the west part of the north side of the nave are of a
late pattern, with two set-offs, and those on the south side of the nave
have been repaired and altered.
In the south side of the nave a new exterior doorway (see Fig. 238) has
been substituted for the old Norman doorway, the shafts and arch of the
latter remaining in the interior. The new doorway is said to have been
inserted by Bishop Reid in the sixteenth century. This is the same
Bishop whom we meet with as Prior of Beauly and Abbot of Kinloss
(_q.v._)
The doorway has the late form of a three-sided arch, and the mouldings
are those common at the period (sixteenth century). In the centre of the
lintel is the shield for a coat of arms, now obliterated, but a mitre is
still traceable. A benitier adjoins the doorway, and there seems to have
been a wooden porch or awning over it.
The tower over the crossing (see Fig. 230) has been considerably
operated upon in modern times. The old wooden spire was destroyed by
lightning in 1671, and the tower consequently required repairs. The
parapet and pinnacles are modern, as also the pointed and slated roof;
but the lower part seems to be of considerable age (see Section, Fig.
227). The part within the roof of the church is apparently of transition
date, and the upper part, with the large pointed windows, is probably of
fifteenth century work.
An unusually wide wheel stair leads from the north-west and south-west
angles of the transept to the upper parts of the edifice. These stairs
are connected with passages which circulate all round the clerestory and
triforium in the thickness of the walls (Fig. 247), and give access to
every part of the building. They also pass round the tower at each
story, and are connected with small wheel stairs in the angles, by one
of which access is obtained to the roof.
There would appear to have been, at one time, numerous fine monuments in
the cathedral, but they have all disappeared.
An arched recess, with a gablet over it, in the south nave aisle (see
Fig. 237) is now empty, but is supposed, by Sir H. Dryden, to have been
erected for some member of the family of the Strathernes, Earls of
Orkney.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account