The eastern piers of the crossing have been demolished, probably in some of the attempts to blow up the building in Henry VIII.’s time. Their destruction has entailed that of the central tower, of which only the western wall remains (see Fig. 766). The transepts have suffered by the fall of the tower, the vaulting of the north transept being demolished, except in one chapel, while that of the south transept is reduced to the south bays of the central nave and the adjoining chapel (Fig. 771). Fortunately the south wall of the transept, with its splendid decorated window, is still in good preservation (Fig. 772). From the south transept access is obtained to the roof of the aisle of the nave and the upper parts of the structure by a turnpike stair, which also forms the only mode of approach to the tower (Fig. 773). The choir (Fig. 774), so far as the east end is concerned, is well preserved, the buttresses and gable, the celebrated eastern window, and the remarkable vaulting (Fig. 775) of the presbytery being all in good order. The remainder of the choir, however, has been greatly wrecked by the fall of the central tower; but many of the windows of the choir and transept, [Illustration: FIG. 771.--Melrose Abbey. South Transept.] with their perpendicular tracery, have escaped destruction and afford the best example in Scotland of that form of design (Fig. 776). [Illustration: FIG. 772.--Melrose Abbey. South Transept: Exterior.] Having described the present condition of the edifice, we shall now consider the different parts in the order of their age, so far as ascertainable. [Illustration: FIG. 773.--Melrose Abbey. South-West Angle of South Transept.] There seems to be no part now traceable of the church erected in the twelfth century, except perhaps one or two tombstones. It has been [Illustration: FIG. 774.--Melrose Abbey. East End of Choir.] pointed out above that the arrangements of that original church and cloister probably influenced the position of the north wall of the nave, and thus caused the narrowness of the north aisle. It seems not improbable that some of the original north wall may be preserved as the core of the present wall, having been faced up with newer work on each side. [Illustration: FIG. 775.--Melrose Abbey. Interior of Choir.] But, speaking generally, the building, as it now stands, is all of a date subsequent to Bruce’s time, and much of it is later than the destruction which occurred under Richard II. in 1385. The nave, from the crossing to the rood loft, and part of the transepts are, undoubtedly, the oldest [Illustration: FIG. 776.--Melrose Abbey. South-East Angle of Transept and Choir.]