In the architectural notes which accompany an account of the abbey in the publication of the _Archæological Association of Ayr and Wigton_,[38] Mr. Galloway gives an account of the result of certain diggings and explorations carried out by him. From these it was ascertained that traces of the outline of the rest of the church could be distinguished, as shown on the Plan. It was thus found that “in its original state Kilwinning was a cross church, 225 feet in extreme length internally, 64 to 65 feet in breadth at the nave, and 98 feet from north to south of the transepts. The nave had north and south aisles throughout its entire length, the transepts had eastern aisles only, and there was a small chancel about 30 feet in breadth, without aisles.” The church was terminated at the west end with two square towers, which projected slightly beyond the walls of the nave. The mode of construction of these towers formed a rather exceptional feature in Scottish church architecture. The towers were not carried down with solid walls to the foundation according to a usual plan (as at Elgin, Aberdeen, &c.), but rested on two sides on arches which opened into the nave and aisles, and thus formed a continuation of the aisles of the nave. Of these arches only that which opened into the south aisle remains, together with the pier and respond which supported it. The arch (Fig. 502) is acutely pointed and the springing is high, thus giving it a kind of horse shoe shape. The foundations of some other parts of the south [Illustration: FIG. 501.--Kilwinning Abbey. Plan.] [Illustration: FIG. 502.--Kilwinning Abbey. West End: Exterior.] tower were, by excavation, ascertained to exist. The mouldings and caps of the existing piers and arch all belong to the first pointed period, but from having been long exposed to the weather, they are considerably decayed. The mouldings on the west angle of the pier are carried up to a great height without any caps (see Fig. 502). The caps would, doubtless, be placed at a higher point than the shafts now reach to. This indicates that the arches of the towers on the side next the central aisle of the nave were very high, probably reaching to the level of the clerestory arch, and thus effectually including the space of the towers in the nave. This arrangement of the tower arches next the nave is quite unique, and would give the appearance of a western transept at the entrance to the church. [Illustration: FIG. 503.--Kilwinning Abbey. West End: Interior.]