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
is 30 feet in length by 20 feet in width internally. The west wall is
now much broken down, so that in the view from the north-west (Fig. 912)
there is seen the exterior of the north side and the interior of the
south side. The chapel has been lighted by two windows in the north and
two windows in the south wall, all towards the east end. About the
middle of the structure there is a small window in each of the north and
south walls, and further westwards the entrance doorway occurs in the
south wall. The doorway is still pretty complete, and has a round arch
and splayed jambs. Being at the height of one story from the ground, it
must have been approached by an outside staircase, probably somewhat in
the manner shown by dotted lines on Plan.
[Illustration: FIG. 913.--Chapel, Rothesay Castle. Windows in North
Wall.]
There is no window in the east wall, as a window in that position would
have been blocked by the staircase leading to the battlements on the
outer wall of the fortress. The eastern part of the church, however, is
amply lighted by the two large windows on each side. These windows (Fig.
913) are pointed, and each had a central mullion and simple branching
tracery. The mouldings consist of simple splays. There is a piscina in
the south wall of the chancel to the east of the eastern window.
The small windows in the side walls are pointed, and may have lit altars
at the rood screen. The western portion of the chapel had probably a
window in the west wall.
The whole structure is simple, but massive. There are few features by
which the date may be fixed, but it seems most probable that it was
erected towards the end of the fourteenth century, when the castle was
enlarged and frequently occupied by Kings Robert II. and III.
ST. BRIDGET’S OR ST. BRIDE’S CHURCH, DOUGLAS, LANARKSHIRE.
The town of Douglas, in the parish of the same name, stands in the Upper
Ward of Lanarkshire, about 3½ miles south from Douglas Station, on the
Lesmahagow branch of the Caledonian Railway. The town and castle are
closely connected with the great Douglas family, several members of
which are buried in the church, and have sumptuous monuments erected
therein to their memory.
The church of Douglas existed in the twelfth century, but the present
structure is of considerably later date. Douglas Church belonged to
Kelso Abbey. In the end of the fourteenth century it was made a prebend
of Glasgow Cathedral. The ancient church here, in 1307, played an
important part in one of the bold feats of the Good Sir James Douglas in
the time of Bruce. The English garrison of Douglas Castle, being
assembled in the church, were attacked by Sir James, and were all
killed.
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