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 apse (Fig. 861), which is three-sided, is somewhat awkwardly fitted
on to the choir, being formed like a large bow window, extending beyond
the choir, from which it opens by a large semicircular arch in the east
wall (see Fig. 859). This wall is continued upwards on the exterior, so
as to form a gable, finished with crow-steps. The windows of the apse
are large, and the tracery of two of the windows is perpendicular in
character.
The transepts (or north and south chapels) and the south porch are
constructed in a somewhat peculiar manner (see Figs. 862 and 863),
having crow-stepped gables both on their outer walls and also over the
inner or aisle wall which separates them from the church. The upper part
of these structures does not thus interfere with the aisle roof, but
stands apart from it, allowing the aisle roof and the clerestory to pass
clear behind them. The north chapel, with its round turret (see Fig.
862), forms a very picturesque feature of the edifice. Each of these
partly detached adjuncts contains an apartment over the vault (see Fig.
856). The chambers over the north transept and south porch are
approached by turret stairs, while access to that over the south
transept is obtained by passing along the gutter from the south porch
and entering by a door in the inner gable. The room over the south porch
seems to have been a place for preserving documents, there being three
wall presses, one having had double doors. The light from the small
oriel over the arch of the porch is not good. The room over the south
transept is provided with a large fireplace, and may have been used as a
kitchen; that over the north transept is empty and bare. The south
porch, with its picturesque upper oriel and stair turret (Fig. 863), is
a very interesting part of the edifice. The doorway has good mouldings
and bold enrichment in the arch, and the corbelled oriel is a peculiar
adjunct to the church. A similar one existed at St. Giles’, Edinburgh.
The parapet of the south aisle of the choir is provided with plain
gargoyles (Fig. 864), twisted so as to throw the water off the windows;
but that of the nave has no gargoyles, the water being removed by pipes.
The cornice of the nave is also different from the rest of the building,
and has the appearance of being a comparatively recent repair. This may
have been executed at the same time as the repair of the tower (to be
referred to). The junction of the different parts of the parapet and
clerestory is seen in Figs. 860 and 864.
The forms of the buttresses are worthy of notice (see Figs. 860 and
864). Those of the nave have a simpler character than those of the apse
and north transept. They are all well enriched with niches, having
carved canopies and corbels, but those of the choir and north transept
contain a more minute style of carving and ornament than those of the
nave. The numerous set-offs of the buttresses of the apse (see Fig.
861),
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