The ecclesiastical architecture of Scotland from the earliest Christian times to the seventeenth century; vol. 3/3 — John Shaqi
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
From the chapter house a passage is visible in the upper part of the
east wall of the north transept. In order to admit of this, the wall of
the transept (as above pointed out) has required to be made of great
thickness, and this explains the depth of the two recesses under it in
the transept previously referred to. As already mentioned, there was an
upper floor over the chapter house and the adjoining portions of the
east range of the cloister buildings. Part of this upper floor is
believed to have been the library--the literary treasures of which were
famous--and part would, no doubt, be the dormitory of the monks.
It seems not improbable that the passage in the transept wall may have
led from the library or dormitory to the chapel in the upper aisle of
the choir over the sacristy, and the use of that chapel would thus be
explained. The chapel, as already mentioned, is a structure of late
erection, as is apparent from the imitation dog-tooth running round the
straight-sided arch of the east window (see Fig. 1002). The passage in
the transept wall may be much older, but was possibly utilised in
connection with the late reconstruction of the monastery, as above
suggested.
To the north of the chapter house are two chambers of good size, over
which an upper story has extended, as the remains of the windows show.
The north side of the cloister has been occupied by the refectory, a
building 63 feet long by 20 feet wide. It is situated on the first or
upper floor, and is of late work; but seems to occupy the position of a
previous refectory, which formerly stood on the site, and of which some
portions of the walls remain. The first refectory appears to have been
on the ground floor, as the remains of what must have been a handsome
doorway in the south wall near the west end of this range prove. This
doorway has had three orders of mouldings with shafts and caps, about 7
feet high, apparently of thirteenth century work, of which some
fragments remain, partly built into the adjoining angle structure. The
latter is evidently a late erection, as it encloses part of the west
jamb of the above doorway. The pier of the diagonal arch of the cloister
walk at the east end of the refectory also encroaches on the door beside
it. At a somewhat late period the refectory has been raised to the upper
floor, and an entrance made to it by a wide staircase at the east end
(which would also probably form the day staircase to the dormitory). The
ground floor is low, and has loopholes for windows. It has apparently
been used for cellars or storages. There is a wide pointed doorway
leading into it at the north-west angle (see Fig. 997). The north
elevation of the structure is fairly preserved.
The buttresses seem to be reconstructions on the lines of the original
ones, but the windows, both in the north elevation and towards the
cloister, are of later date.
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