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
Judging from the few details left, the Airth aisle is a structure of the
fifteenth century. It measures about 24 feet 3 inches long by 13 feet 3
inches wide, and has contained a large traceried south window, which is
now destroyed, and brought to the condition shown in Fig. 426. The
external hood moulding of the window remains with nicely carved
terminations (Fig. 427). Beneath this window is seen the top of an
arched tomb, in which probably the recumbent effigy (Fig. 428) once lay.
There is a small square-headed window in the east wall, divided by a
mullion; but, as appears from its mouldings, it is an insertion of
perhaps the seventeenth century. Adjoining this is the usual ambry.
Beneath this aisle is the burial vault (indicated by dotted lines on the
Plan), which is reached by the stair shown. On the outside of the east
wall there is a niche for a statue (Fig. 429). It has the usual canopy
and bracket so frequent on the churches of this late period. The bracket
(Fig. 430) contains the Bruce arms--viz., the chief and saltier; the
chief being charged with two incised cinquefoils, which may point to an
alliance with the Livingstone family. The same arms, but without the
cinquefoils,
[Illustration: FIG. 426.--Airth Church. The Airth Aisle, looking South.]
appear beneath each of the first crow steps of the gable. This aisle was
probably erected by Alexander Bruce of Stenhous and first of Airth (1452
to 1483), who was a son of Sir Robert Bruce of Clackmannan,[198] and is
stated to have married (first) Janet, daughter of the first Lord
Livingstone, by whom he had no issue. It was probably “our Ladie Aisle,
founded and situated on the south side of the Kirk of Airth,” the
chaplainrie of which was presented by Sir Alexander Bruce of
[Illustration: FIG. 427.--Airth Church. Terminations.]
Airth, the patron, to Robert Bruce, younger, his son, on 30th October
1572.
[Illustration: FIG. 428.--Airth Church. Effigy.]
The effigy (see Fig. 428), which, as already stated, probably occupied
the tomb in the Airth aisle, lies at present in a mutilated state in the
[Illustration: FIG. 429.--Niche for Statue.]
[Illustration: FIG. 430.--Bracket.]
[Illustration: FIG. 431.--Stone in Airth Castle.]
eastern portion of the church. There is no certainty whom the recumbent
figure represents, but it is in all likelihood an effigy of one of the
ladies of either the family of Erth or of the Bruces of Airth. It has
been stated that another effigy lies beside the one referred to, but we
understand from a person who has examined the ground that nothing of the
kind is to be found. This effigy, which is 6 feet 3 inches long by 1
foot 10 inches in breadth, is greatly mutilated; but the coverlet
extending from the waist downwards is well preserved, and is very finely
carved, and, so far as we know, is unique amongst Scottish figures.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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