CHAPEL, EFFIGY, AND CROSS ON INCH KENNETH, Mull, Argyleshire.
Inch Kenneth is about half a mile across at the mouth of Loch na Keal, on the west side of Mull.
The chapel ([Fig. 132]) adjoins the burial-ground, which is on the south-east part of the island, and at 50 or 60 feet above the water.
Fig. 132.—Chapel on Inch Kenneth. View from North-East.
The ground falls sharply from the north-east to the south-west. The burial-ground is on the west of the chapel, and on higher ground. There is an enclosed burial-place adjoining the south side of the chapel for the Macleans of Brolas.
The chapel ([Fig. 133]) is a plain parallelogram, 40 feet 9 inches east and west by 19 feet 8 inches north and south inside. It is deflected 10
Fig. 133.—Chapel on Inch Kenneth. Plan.
Fig. 134.—Chapel on Inch Kenneth. Section and North Elevation.
degrees 30 minutes to the north of true east, assuming the magnetic meridian to be 21 degrees west of true north.
It is of a light-coloured hard sandstone. It has long been unroofed, and is mutilated in other parts.
Fig. 135.—Chapel on Inch Kenneth. Details of Doorway.
The doorway ([Fig. 134]) is in the north wall, near the west end, on the side sheltered by the hill; but all the freestone has been taken out, except two stones of the inner order of the east jamb.
The jambs ([Fig. 135]) and arch were of two orders. Judging by the remains of wall it had no hood and no cap. I did not make out whether it had been a pointed or a half-circular arch, as there is only a small portion of the masonry fitting the back of the outer order above the west impost remaining to judge by. Probably pointed.
The sill of the doorway is covered by rubbish, and the whole of the interior is covered to about 2 feet depth. I had not opportunity for excavation.
The east end ([Fig. 136]) remains to 15 feet high, a little above the eaves. The side walls ([Fig. 137]) are about 12 feet high, and the west wall remains to a little way up the gable.
Fig. 136.—Chapel on Inch Kenneth. East End—Exterior and Interior.
The facing of the south wall and the south-west angle have disappeared. The weakness of foundation and the position of the east end on a steep slope caused, at some period, the east end to lean outwards
Fig. 137.—Chapel on Inch Kenneth. South Elevation.
considerably; and to obviate further decay, large clasping buttresses (see [Fig. 132.]) were made at north-east and south-east angles, at some period much after the building of the chapel, but long ago.
In the east end are two plain lancets ([Fig. 138]), 4 feet 8 inches high and 8¾ inches wide, with wide splays to the inside.
There is no groove for glass, and so it probably was fixed in a wooden frame.
Fig. 138.—Chapel on Inch Kenneth. East Windows.
On the north is, near the east end, a square-headed light (Figs. 139, 140), 4 feet 8 inches by 1 foot. It has no glass groove. The internal head is not now arched, but probably was so at first.
On the south, and nearly opposite the last, is a light, 4 feet 8 inches by 9 inches, with a square head and internal arch. (See [Fig. 140.])
Between this and the east wall is a projecting stone with hollow in it, but no drain. (See [Fig. 139.]) It is difficult to assign a date to this, but I think, probably, it is of fourteenth or fifteenth century.
In the centre of the chapel is a flat tombstone, with floriated decoration. In the burial-ground is a cross of slate, now prostrate. It appears of very late date, but has traditional form and ornaments.
In the burial-place on the south side of chapel is a floriated tombstone ([Fig. 141]), also an effigy in relief ([Fig. 142]). This is 6 feet 7½ inches long from the top of the cap to the heels. The figure is in relief of about 4 inches average, flattened on the upper surface, like many others in that
Fig. 139.—Chapel on Inch Kenneth. North and South Windows—Interior.
Fig. 140.—Chapel on Inch Kenneth. South-East and North Windows—Exterior.
district, and is in the same stone as the slab, as usual. The slab is 7 feet 2¼ inches by 2 feet 8 inches, of hard freestone. He has no metal armour except his skull-cap or morion, which has a raised longitudinal rib and a narrow brim. The head rests on a simple pillow of 3 inches relief. He wears a quilted dress reaching to the knees, and over that, apparently a
Fig. 141.
surcoat. The face has no protection; the hair is long and curly, falling over the shoulders; he has no beard and no moustache. Below the chin falls the broad end of a tie (?) of some kind. The right arm, in a quilted sleeve, is extended by the side, and in the hand is a cannon (?) ball. Lying over the waist is a circular target, 1 foot in diameter and 2 inches thick, and on this is a shield (presumably to receive the arms either in sculpture or paint) of 10½ inches width and 1¼ inch thickness.
The legs are in close-fitting hose, or perhaps bare, and the junction of the boots is not shown. The feet rest against a lion or dog. He has a waist-belt, from which depends a long, broad, straight sword, of equal width to the end. The upper part of the scabbard and the guard are
Fig. 142.
concealed by the target. The left arm holds the target, and is therefore partly concealed by it. Dependent from the belt at the right hip is the dirk. On each side of the head is a figure 10¼ inches high, much worn, in a loose cloak, and in the attitude of prayer. These may represent children or professional mourners.
It is possible that the shield which is in relief on the target is to represent a metal or a wooden plate fastened to the target.
It is likely that the cannon ball is a memorial of some incident.
Sir Henry Dryden, in reading over the foregoing description of the Orkney and Shetland churches after they were arranged in type, has requested the following note to be inserted:—
Note by Sir Henry Dryden.
All the plans and sections are much reduced from the originals; therefore, the statements of the scales are not true, but the scales given are correct, having been reduced with the plans.
Of the original drawings, some general plans are to the scale of ½ an inch to 40 feet, and ½ an inch to 10 feet. All the chapels are to the scale of ⅜ of an inch to 2 feet, doors and windows ⅜ to 6 inches, and mouldings ⅜ to 3 inches.
The elevations in the originals are tinted with sepia, and have no masonry indicated. The artist who has prepared these reductions has indicated the masonry, but has made it much too regular, both in courses and size of stones.
The drawing here shown is a more accurate representation of the general style of the masonry.
The degrees and minutes prefixed to arrows are the readings of a prismatic compass, with 360 degrees at south, 90 degrees at west, and so on. All were taken west to east and east to west.
TRANSITION FROM CELTIC TO NORMAN ARCHITECTURE.
Having in the preceding chapters dealt with the churches in Scotland which may be regarded as of Celtic descent, we now turn to those in which the Roman or Norman influence begins to make itself apparent.
A few structures exist in Scotland in which both the Celtic and Norman influences can be traced, and which are interesting as examples of the transition from the one style to the other. We have noted in the foregoing descriptions the gradual introduction in the later Celtic churches of features characteristic of Norman work, such as round arched openings and upright jambs, not to mention the pointed and more advanced details of later examples. But the gradual approach of Norman architecture, and its encroachment on the Celtic forms, is more particularly noticeable in some of the early towers in the East of Scotland. In that part of the country of which the Frith of Tay forms the centre, and which was then the central region of Pictavia, there exists a series of early ecclesiastical towers, eight in number. Six of these towers are situated south of the Tay—three of them being on the south side of the Ochil Hills, and three on the north side. Those on the south side are the tower of St. Regulus at St. Andrews and the towers at Markinch and Dunblane; while the towers on the north side of the Ochils are at Abernethy, Muthill, and Dunning. The towers on the north side of the Tay are those at Brechin and Restennet. These places are all known to have been the sites of Culdee establishments, which were ultimately absorbed into the Roman system.
The towers of Abernethy and Brechin are round towers, similar in design to the round towers of Ireland.[136] These two towers contain many features which indicate their Irish derivation, while one of them—that at Abernethy—shows the impress of the Norman influence in its details.
The other towers above mentioned (which are described under their respective heads) are all square in plan; but that of Restennet shows considerable affinity with Celtic modes of construction. The Church of St. Regulus probably marks the next step in the Norman advance, while the remaining towers, although simple in details, are quite distinctly Norman in their features.
The Round Tower of Brechin is the one which approaches most nearly to the Celtic or Irish forms. Its masonry is built with large stones, but they are not laid in regular courses. The doorway is some feet above the ground, and is ornamented with details quite Irish in character. This tower will be more fully described under the head of Brechin Cathedral.