The ecclesiastical architecture of Scotland from the earliest Christian times to the seventeenth century; vol. 2/3MacGibbon, David
History
The ecclesiastical architecture of Scotland from the earliest Christian times to the seventeenth century; vol. 2/3
MacGibbon, David
Church architecture -- Scotland
The east side of the cloister, which is included in the modern mansion,
extends southwards from the church for a distance of about 200 feet.
Adjoining the transept has been the slype or sacristy; then comes the
chapter house, of which only the bases of a double row of pillars
remain. It was about 35 feet long by 27 feet wide, and projected towards
the east; but the east end, being under the mansion, cannot be explored.
The buildings adjoining to the south are well preserved on the ground
floor. They are erroneously designated the crypts, as they are entirely
above ground. The long range, with central pillars, was the fratry,
beyond which was a large hall. On the south side of the cloister there
was a passage and a well-preserved kitchen, with a large fireplace,
measuring 12 feet 6 inches by 6 feet, and having still traces of smoke.
Adjoining it, to the west, are the foundations of the refectory, 106
feet long by 33 feet 6 inches wide. It will be observed that, as usual
in Scotland, the refectory is parallel with the church. On the west side
of the cloister the foundations of several buildings have been laid
bare. Next the nave there has been a passage containing a staircase to
the dormitory of the conversi; then came a large apartment, 67 feet
long by 28 feet 6 inches wide; then the entrance passage to the
cloister, 6 feet 2 inches wide, with a doorway 4 feet 9 inches wide. To
the south of this is another large apartment, 68 feet long by 23 feet 9
inches wide, having foundations of a central row of pillars, the bases
of which are all different (Fig. 654). Still farther south are found
remains of a large arched conduit or drain, 2 feet 6 inches wide, and
the same height.
In the vaulted fratry there stands an old font (Fig. 655), which was
found at Mavisbank House, some miles distant, about the year 1873, by
workmen when digging for foundations of proposed new buildings. On the
supposition that it contained the arms of Abbot Hasmall, and therefore
belonged to Newbattle, it was brought here. It is interesting as being
evidently intended, from the coats of arms with which it is adorned, to
be a memorial of the royal family during the first half of the sixteenth
century. The arms it contains are:--
1st Shield.--Arms of Ramsay.
2nd Shield.--Arms of Margaret of England (daughter of Henry VII.),
wife of James IV.
3rd Shield.--Arms of Magdalene of France (daughter of Francis I.),
first wife of James V.
4th Shield.--Arms of Scotland (James V.)
5th Shield.--Arms of Marie of Lorraine (daughter of Claude, Duke of
Guise), second wife of James V.
6th Shield.--Supposed to be the arms of James Hasmall, Abbot of
Newbotle (1542-1554).[101]
7th and 8th Shields.--Blank.
Only the bowl of the font is old. It is octagonal, and measures about 2
feet 6½ inches in width and 12½ inches across each face. The height of
the bowl is 1 foot 7½ inches, and the depth 13½ inches, with a square
hole at bottom.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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