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
Two or three windows in the side walls, with double splays on the
exterior, probably belong to the fifteenth century. They are
square-headed, and have been greatly knocked about. In the north wall
there is a peculiar narrow door about 2 feet 3 inches wide, splayed on
the exterior and lintelled like the windows just mentioned.
The doorway to the church, which is now built up, was in the south side
near the west end. It appears to have been of Norman work, and a small
piece of its enrichment still remains, consisting (Fig. 1461) of the
trigonal moulding with a double notch enrichment, frequently found in
the outer member of Norman arches. At some later time a porch has been
added, as shown on the Plan, when probably the Norman door was
dismembered, and the fragment now shown was built into the wall.
Sometime after the Reformation, a laird’s seat (belonging to the
Oliphants
[Illustration: FIG. 1461.--Forgandenny Church.
Enrichment of Norman Doorway.]
of Condie) was projected into the church, as shown by dotted lines on
the Plan. It was on a high level, and the congregation gained access
under it. This seat was done away with by giving the Oliphants of Condie
the
porch, which they converted into a burial vault, enlarging it at the
same time, and making their seat over it, with an opening into the
church.
[Illustration: FIG. 1462.--Forgandenny Church.
Font.]
The Ruthven vault, situated further east, is probably a structure of the
sixteenth or seventeenth century. Some closed up windows have features
of that period. The seat belonging to Freeland House is situated over
it.
The foundations of a building were recently discovered on the north side
of the church, exactly opposite this vault (as shown by dotted lines on
Plan), suggesting the idea that the simple Norman building had been
converted into a cross church.
The bowl of the font (Fig. 1462) still remains. It is octagonal, but
[Illustration: FIG. 1463.--Font at Muckersey.]
not equal sided, and is somewhat broken. It measures 2 feet 1½ inches
over all by about 15 inches high.
Fig. 1463 shows another font which exists at a chapel at Muckersey, a
few miles distant. It likewise is octagonal and not equal sided, and has
a coat of arms on one side, which we have not been able to identify. The
chapel at Muckersey is now used as a family vault, and has no other
ancient features.
INCHAFFRAY ABBEY, PERTHSHIRE.
The ruins of the Abbey of Inchaffray, the ancient Insula Missarum, stand
on a wooded mound not far from Madderty Station, about six miles east of
Crieff.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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