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
of the choir of the Parish Church of Dundee.[75] The only portion of the
ancient parish church which now remains is the western tower (Fig.
1047). Although this structure had no immediate connection with the
choir, it has evidently, as its style shows, been erected about the
middle of the fifteenth century, probably about the time when the choir
was built by the Provost and Burgesses in terms of the above agreement.
Three parish churches in connection with the tower were gradually
developed from the original chapel. They comprised a large cruciform
[Illustration: FIG. 1048.--Dundee Church Tower. Plan.]
structure, the various portions of which were called St. Mary’s, or the
East Church; St. Paul’s, or the South Church; and St. Clement’s, or the
West Church. The structure was greatly damaged by the English before the
Union, and St. Clement’s had suffered so much that it required to be
rebuilt in 1789. The three churches were almost totally destroyed by
fire in 1841, and in consequence the choir and transepts were thereafter
rebuilt, St. Mary’s still occupying the choir, St. Paul’s the transept,
and St. Clement’s the nave.
The ancient tower has escaped these various destructions and
restorations, and is now the only representative of the church erected
in the fifteenth century. It is a large and massive structure, measuring
about 40 feet square over the walls (Fig. 1048), which are about 8 feet
thick. Its total height is about 165 feet. The tower forms a prominent
object in all views of the town. It contains in the lower stage the
western
[Illustration: FIG. 1049.--Dundee Church Tower. West Doorway.]
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