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
[Illustration: FIG. 968.--Dunkeld Cathedral. Plan.]
dates of the different parts of the structure of the cathedral than we
have of any similar building in the country. From this account it would
appear that the existing structure is chiefly of the fifteenth century.
The edifice (Fig. 968) consists of an aisleless choir, a nave with two
aisles, a north-west tower, and a chapter house to the north of the
choir. The choir measures 103 feet long by 29 feet wide internally, and
the rectangular chapter house attached to the north side is 27 feet long
and 20 feet wide. Some portions of the choir indicate the style of the
thirteenth
[Illustration: FIG. 969.--Dunkeld Cathedral. Wall Arcade at North-West
Angle of Choir.]
century; but this part of the structure was almost entirely rebuilt in
the beginning of the present century. An original fragment may, however,
still be observed in damaged portions of a first pointed arcade (Fig.
969) in the interior of the north wall near the west end. The arcade is
below the level of the window sill, and extends to six arches of trefoil
form, springing from the carved caps of single shafts. All the details
(Fig. 970) are pure and good. A post to support a modern gallery cuts
into the arcade, as shown in Fig. 969. From the floor to the top of the
caps measures 5 feet 9 inches. The choir is now fitted up and used as
the parish church.
The chapter house, on the north side of the choir, is now converted into
a mausoleum for the families of the Dukes of Atholl, and contains
several Renaissance monuments. It is two stories high (Fig. 971), the
[Illustration: FIG. 970.--Dunkeld Cathedral. Details of Wall Arcade in
North-West Angle of Choir.]
lower story being vaulted and of considerable height (Fig. 972), and is
lighted by tall lancet windows cusped at the arch head. The buttresses
are simple, and the whole character of the work is early, but it has
been altered. The vaulting (Fig. 972) is round arched, but the wall ribs
are pointed; the roof has thus a flat appearance, and there are no
horizontal ridge ribs. The chapter house structure has been added after
the erection of the choir, as is evident from the portion of the
original exterior base of the choir which still exists in the south-west
angle of the interior of the chapter house adjoining the door (see Fig.
972). From the style of the design, this structure was probably an early
addition. The upper
[Illustration: FIG. 971.--Dunkeld Cathedral. Chapter House from
North-West.]
chamber over the chapter house is doubtless later. The staircase leading
to the upper floor is inserted in the south-west angle and projects into
the chamber,[20] and cuts through the groined ceiling (see Fig. 972).
The heightening of the chapter house was apparently carried out by
Bishop Lauder, whose arms, a griffin segreant (Fig. 973), are carved
near the top on the face of the north buttress on the east side. The
upper
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