The ecclesiastical architecture of Scotland from the earliest Christian times to the seventeenth century; vol. 3/3MacGibbon, David
History
The ecclesiastical architecture of Scotland from the earliest Christian times to the seventeenth century; vol. 3/3
MacGibbon, David
Church architecture -- Scotland
Although the fabric has been subjected to a considerable amount of
modern improvement, many of the original features still remain. The
main body of the church (Fig. 1183) consists, as it has always done, of
an oblong main structure, divided by two rows of columns into a central
nave, and two side aisles. The nave is 63 feet long, the central
division being 27 feet 6 inches wide, and the side aisles 11 feet wide.
The central columns carry pointed arches (Fig. 1184), and in the wall
above them was originally a small window over each column (not over the
arches as usual) with widely splayed jambs and trefoil head. The roof of
the aisles, being below the sill of these clerestory windows, was
necessarily low. This was found in recent times to be a disadvantage,
and the walls of the aisles have been rebuilt and heightened, so as to
allow the roof of the central nave to run down over them without a break
(Fig. 1185). The old clerestory windows are thus roofed in, and are only
visible in the inside
[Illustration: FIG. 1183.--The Collegiate Church of Crail. Plan.]
of the nave. The windows of the aisles are all modern. The piers are
round and bear simple caps (see Fig. 1184), and these and the clerestory
windows are plainly of a very late date, although the cap mouldings (see
Fig. 1184) have been copied from old forms.
To the east of the nave was the choir, now converted into a vestry 20
feet 6 inches long by 17 feet wide. The chancel arch springs from two
responds, the shafts of which have an ancient appearance, but they have
probably been reconstructed in imitation of ancient work. One of the
small original windows is preserved in the north wall of the chancel. It
is about 18 inches in width, and has a plain pointed arch with chamfer
on edge.
There has been an arch at the west end of the church with similar
shafts to those of the chancel arch. This arch opened into the tower
which rises against the centre of the west wall of the church, and is
divided into several floors, and provided with a newell stair leading to
them.
The tower (see Fig. 1185) is a picturesque object, though perfectly
plain. It rises with square angles, without buttresses or other breaks
from the base to the parapet. Its short spire, together with the
projection containing the turret stair, form a pleasing group. The whole
presents a characteristic specimen of our simple Scottish church
steeples.
[Illustration: FIG. 1184.--The Collegiate Church of Crail. Main Arcade
and Clerestory Windows.]
Although it has been thought that some of the features (above referred
to) belong to the first pointed period, it is much more likely that the
whole structure, except the recent work, dates from the beginning of the
sixteenth century, when the collegiate establishment was instituted, and
when the old parish church appears to have been reconstructed. Several
similar towers of late date in the locality will be illustrated.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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