As above mentioned, the south-west tower of the cloister (see Fig. 747) appears to be an addition of probably the fifteenth or sixteenth century, when, indeed, the most of the upper floor of the south and west walls would appear to have been erected. The corbels at the parapet of the tower have the character of those of the castles of the period. A window in the south-west gable (see Fig. 747) is round headed, and has a hood moulding with carved terminals, which look like sixteenth century work. The pulpit is projected on two buttresses, the space between which forms a recess for a seat on the ground floor. The projection for the pulpit has the appearance of being an addition. The large, square-headed upper [Illustration: FIG. 755.--The Abbey of Inchcolm. General View, from South-East.] windows in the south wall have a moulding on the jambs, and appear to be of late date. A good view of the whole monastery is obtained from the eastern eminence of the island (see Fig. 755). On the summit of this height there is a flat piece of ground, which has been made available as a fortress, and is enclosed with an embrasured wall, one part being of extra strength and height, and, doubtless, formed the citadel. These fortifications were erected about a century ago, during the war with France. [Illustration: Holyrood Abbey. Doorway in Interior of South-West Tower.] MIDDLE POINTED OR DECORATED PERIOD. Attention has been specially directed in the Introduction[126] to the fact that while, during the Norman and first pointed periods, a strong resemblance is observable between the architecture of England and Scotland, after the first pointed period there is a break in the continuity of the architecture of the two countries. Towards the end of the thirteenth century, owing to the political events which then took place, architecture in Scotland came to a standstill, and was not generally resumed till the end of the fourteenth or the beginning of the fifteenth century, when the country began to recover from the disastrous effects of the long struggle with England. Various restorations had been encouraged by royal grants during the fourteenth century, but some of the edifices so aided were only reconstructed to be again demolished by raids from the South. In consequence of the unfortunate condition of the country, there is thus a wide gap in the continuity of the architecture of Scotland during the fourteenth century. When the country revived, and building again began in the fifteenth century, attention was chiefly devoted to the restoration of the churches throughout the country, which had nearly all suffered severely during the constant disturbance of the previous hundred years. Few new works were undertaken, all the energy and resources available being required for the rebuilding and completion of some of the more venerated and cherished cathedrals and monasteries.