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
The vestry, which projects from the east end of the choir, seems to have
been erected before the bond was executed, and the foundations of the
choir seem to have been laid at that time. The remainder of the choir
was apparently carried out afterwards, but the nave, which was carefully
specified in the bond, was never erected.
The vestry contains two stories, the lower one being a burial vault,
which is “pendit” or vaulted, while the upper floor forms the vestry.
The
[Illustration: FIG. 1200.--Mid-Calder Church. View from South-East.]
[Illustration: FIG. 1201.--Mid-Calder Church. View from North-East.]
small stair leading to both floors is placed in the north-east angle of
the apse. The east wall of the choir (Fig. 1200) is raised above the
roof of the vestry, and is provided with a traceried window to the east;
but there is no window in the north-east side of the apse, which is
occupied by the wheel stair (Fig. 1201). The buttresses are erected as
required by the
[Illustration: FIG. 1202.--Mid-Calder Church. Pinnacles on Sacristy.]
bond, and the three south windows are introduced between them. The north
wall is carried up with rough masonry, and without any windows or
openings, and has the water table and corbels prescribed as suitable for
the roof of a cloister walk along that side (see Fig. 1201). The choir
roof has been intended to be vaulted and the lower courses of the
springing are built, but the vault was never completed. The springings
show that the vault was intended to be groined. It is specified to have
a “cross brace and rinruif,” like a chapel in St. Giles’ Church, but the
meaning of these terms is not definite.
At the west end of the choir a very thick wall is built on each side,
with a pointed arch between (described as a brace) to support the
belfry,
[Illustration: FIG. 1203.--Mid-Calder Church. Terminations of Labels.]
which is minutely specified. The latter, however, was not executed till
recently. The lower part, however, above the roof was built, and the
modern belfry has been carried up upon it. In the north pier is a
“turngreis” or wheel stair described as leading to the rood loft, but
in reality it now leads to the family gallery and to the lower part of
the belfry (see Fig. 1201). A proposed nave is also minutely described.
It was to be 80 feet in length and 28 feet in width, to have four
buttresses on each side of ashlar work, and four windows in the south
wall, 10 feet
[Illustration: FIG. 1204. Mid-Calder Church. Arms on Corbels supporting
Rood Loft.]
wide, and square lintels. Also an “honest dur,” and a porch on the south
side with stone seats and stone roof, and another “honest dur” in the
west gable, with a large window over it. The windows were to be glazed
and the roof provided with gargoyles.
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