This is an interesting fragment of first pointed work. The chapel is said to have been founded, in 1256, by William de Brechin for the repose of the souls of Kings William and Alexander, and of his brother John, Earl of Chester and Huntingdon; of Henry, his father, and Juliana, his mother. This structure, no doubt, as its name implies, formed part of a hospital. It was endowed with lands, some of which it still retains--one place being yet known as the Maison Dieu Farm. A small revenue derived from the land is generally gifted by the Crown to the rector of the Grammar School, who consequently signs himself “Praeceptor Domus Dei.”[77] [Illustration: FIG. 617.--Maison Dieu. Plan.] The part of the chapel which still survives stands in a back lane in the centre of the town of Brechin, and consists of a portion of the south wall and a small piece of the east wall (Fig. 617). The sketches show that the work is in the first pointed style, and is simple and pure in character. The south wall (Fig. 618), which bounds the lane on one side, is about 40 feet in length, and contains a doorway, with a nook shaft in each jamb, and good mouldings in the arch (Fig. 619). It also contains three lancet windows and one jamb of a fourth. The fragment of the east wall terminates at the jamb of the first window. The mouldings [Illustration: FIG. 618.--Maison Dieu. South Wall: Exterior.] [Illustration: FIG. 619.--Maison Dieu. Section of Doorway.] [Illustration: FIG. 620.--Maison Dieu. Section of Window.] and other details of the windows are plain, but effective, the sconsion mouldings being unusually fine (Figs. 620 and 621). There is a piscina in the south wall with a stone shelf, but the details are a good deal damaged. [Illustration: FIG. 621.--Maison Dieu. South Wall: Interior.] This fragment is valuable, and should be carefully preserved. LINDORES ABBEY,[78] FIFESHIRE. The scanty ruins of this once important abbey are situated a short distance eastwards from the town of Newburgh, and not far from the south bank of the Tay.