The destruction of the interior soon followed, and was hastened by the action of the General Assembly, which, in 1640, empowered Gilbert Ross, minister of Elgin, and others to break down the timber screen between the nave and choir. Spalding states that the paintings on the rood screen--the Crucifixion on the west side, illuminated with gold stars, and the Day of Judgment on the east side--notwithstanding their exposure for “seven score years,” were still in excellent preservation when the demolition took place. Next followed the destruction of the tracery of the great west window and other features, which is believed to have been caused by Cromwell’s troops in 1650-60. By the end of the seventeenth century the double aisles of the nave seem to have disappeared, as they are not shown in Slezer’s view (published in 1693). But the chief catastrophe which overtook the edifice was the fall of the central tower on Easter Sunday, 1711. It fell towards the west, thus overwhelming in its ruin the nave and transepts, and causing their complete destruction. The ruins thereafter became, as usual, the quarry of the district, till, in 1807, by the exertions of Mr. King of Elgin, a wall was built round the enclosure. In 1816 the Barons of Exchequer took possession of the ruins, and appointed as keeper John Shanks, who was an enthusiast in excavating and preserving any ancient sculpture he could discover, and is said to have wheeled out over 3000 barrows of rubbish. The enclosure which surrounded the precincts of the cathedral was of considerable extent, and comprised within its bounds the houses of the canons and the town house of the bishop. The former are now entirely demolished and the latter is hastening to decay, a large portion having recently fallen.[50] One gate of entrance to the precincts still remains. Whether we regard the extent and completeness of the arrangement of the buildings or the beauty of the architecture, Elgin Cathedral, when perfect, must have held a place in the first rank of our Scottish ecclesiastical edifices. It was complete in all departments (Fig. 543), having a large nave with double aisles, an extended choir and presbytery, north and south transepts, a lady chapel, and a detached octagonal chapter house. It also possessed a great tower and spire over the [Illustration: FIG. 543.--Elgin Cathedral. Plan.] crossing, two noble towers at the west end, and two fine turrets at the east end. Most of the existing portions had also the advantage of being erected during the thirteenth century, at which period Scottish architecture was at its best. Good examples of the Scottish decorated period are also represented, and the testimony of ancient historians to the beauty of the internal sculpture and decoration is well supported by the fine fragments which still survive, of which a collection is formed in the chapter house.