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
which contains the arms of John Stewart, who was commendator in 1555. On
the shield are the initials “J. S.,” with the crozier in the centre. He
was brother of the Earl of Lennox, and uncle to Lord Darnley, who
married Queen Mary. The arms are those of the Stewarts of Lennox.
The cloister occupies a space of 93 feet by 91 feet. It has been
surrounded by a vaulted walk, which has entirely disappeared. It is
evident that the cloister walk was at least partly vaulted from the
small remains of the springing of the vaults which are visible in the
eastern wall on each side of the doorway to the chapter house (see Fig.
413). From the way in which these springings die away to nothing against
the wall, without corbel or support of any kind, it is apparent that the
vaulting must have been of a late date. The corbels which supported the
top of the wooden roof over the vaulting are also still visible in the
east wall.
The south wall of the nave of the church extends along the north side of
the cloister. At the north-east angle is the doorway which led from the
cloister into the nave. It is a handsome specimen of the transition
style, having a circular arched head deeply recessed in four or five
orders, springing from three shafts, and two moulded members in the
jambs. It is noteworthy regarding this doorway that the two inner orders
of the jambs and arch had been removed and erected in private grounds,
and, after many years’ absence, were restored to their original position
only a short time ago.
The nave of the church is entered through this handsome doorway by ten
steps up from the cloister. It presents a scene of terrible destruction.
All the piers of the nave are demolished, and only slight traces of the
north wall remain; of the south wall, more is preserved. The west end
wall (Fig. 418), however, has to some extent escaped destruction, and
shows by the responds attached to it the form of the nave piers, with
their caps and bases. The position of the piers along the nave is now
roughly indicated by a collection of fragments arranged, as nearly as
possible, in the original position and form. The mouldings indicate a
late date, and were, doubtless, restorations; but the responds, which
were not so liable to destruction, are of first pointed date. The
responds which form part of the west wall show that there was a central
nave 28 feet wide and side aisles, each about 13 feet 6 inches wide,
making a total width of 55 feet. There have been side chapels in the
nave, apparently divided by walls, some portions of which remain, with
ambries in the chapels.
The western doorway (Fig. 419) has a round arched head, but its details
show that it is of late design. This part of the edifice has apparently
been restored in the fifteenth century, after the destruction of the
abbey by Richard II. in the end of the fourteenth century.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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