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 eastern range of buildings is continued northwards beyond the
refectory by a chamber 33 feet long by 12 feet 6 inches wide, which
seems to have been connected on the upper floor with a lavatory and
latrine. The latter has a built channel, evidently intended, from the
low aperture at each end, for the passage of a stream of water, which
could be easily led into it from the neighbouring burn. To the west of
this stand the walls, 3 feet high, of a nearly detached edifice, with a
separate outer doorway, which may perhaps have been an infirmary. To the
north-east, the low walls are observable of a detached structure 58 feet
9 inches long by 21 feet 6 inches wide. The only wall opening traceable
is the doorway, which has been of simple design. This is supposed by
some to have been the kitchen, but it seems doubtful. There is no
appearance of a fireplace.
A small detached chapel, 38 feet in length by 20 feet 9 inches in width
over the walls, lies to the north-east of the chapter house. It has had
a doorway in the north wall, a small centre window in the east wall, and
a similar window in each of the side walls near the east end. The
windows are trefoil headed and cusped, and appear to be late. The
doorway had two orders, with a bead on each. The orientation of this
building is different from that of the cathedral.
Adjoining the south-west angle of the cloister, and built out from it,
is a small enclosure containing stone coffins (see Fig. 994).
Immediately beyond this are the remains of another enclosure, connected
with a Celtic cross (called St. Martin’s) near the west end of the
cathedral (see Fig. 995). The inner of these chambers, which encloses
the stone coffins, is called “St. Columba’s Tomb.” Dr. Skene is of
opinion that it is actually the structure which contained the body of
St. Columba, the coffin of that Saint being placed on the right or south
side, and that of St. Blathmac (a martyr who died in defending the abbey
against the Northmen in 825) being placed on the left or north side.
This view is, however, controverted by Sir Henry Dryden in a MS. of
1879, deposited in the Antiquarian Museum in Edinburgh.
There is also a well in the same locality as the above enclosures.
The ruins of a chapel of some size (48 feet long by 30 feet wide over
the walls) lie at a short distance to the west of the cloister. The
walls are reduced to a few feet in height, and are partly rebuilt in a
rough manner. There seems to have been a doorway in the east end, but
this is doubtless not original. A turret can be traced at the south-east
angle and another at the south-west angle.
To the north-east of the cloister lie the total ruins of what is called
the Abbot’s House, and at some distance to the south-east of the church
may be observed the greatly demolished remains of a chapel.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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