MARKINCH TOWER, Fifeshire.
The Church and Churchyard of Markinch stand on the top of a small hill, round the base of which lie the houses of the town. The church and its Norman tower are thus conspicuous objects as seen from the railway in approaching from Kirkcaldy, which is about seven miles distant to the southward. The inch, or island, is believed to have derived its name from having been formerly surrounded by a marsh.
Fig. 159.—Markinch Church Tower. Plans and Details.
A church was consecrated here in 1243, and dedicated to Saints John Baptist and Modrest. There was at one time a Culdee cell in this locality, but afterwards the church belonged to the Priory of St. Andrews.
The only part of the original structure which survives is the tower, which is undoubtedly an ancient Norman building.
It is nearly square on plan ([Fig. 159]), being 16 feet from north to south by 17 feet from east to west. The tower rises ([Fig. 160]) without a break (except a string course at each floor) to the height of four stories,
Fig. 160.—Markinch Tower. From South-West.
or 73 feet to the top of the parapet. The original entrance ([Fig. 161]) is by a door, two feet wide, at the north-west angle. The sill is now about two feet above the ground, but it doubtless stood several feet higher originally. From the doorway a wheel stair leads to the upper floors. The stair and upper floors were lighted by small windows, with round heads. These are now built up, except one in the south side, which has been changed into a trefoil head. The top story is lighted by a window in each face. Each of these windows (see [Fig. 159.]) consists of two openings, divided by a central shaft. On the exterior each opening is arched, with a small semi-circular arch, cut out of one stone; but in the interior both openings are spanned by one arch. The arrangement of the shafts is peculiar, the central shaft being placed so as to be in the centre of the abacus which carries the small arches, while the side shafts are wrought upon the angles of the jambs, and do not stand in the same plane as the central shaft. The caps are Norman, of the usual cushion form, with heavy abacus; but they and the bases are now much decayed.
The original mode of finishing the tower is now matter of conjecture, but it was doubtless (as stated by Mr. Muir) finished with a saddleback or gabled roof. It is now terminated with a modern cornice, above which a heavy modern spire has been erected, the top story being domed in order to carry the spire.
Fig. 161.—Markinch Tower. From North-East.
The top story is slightly diminished in size, and is set back over the string course. The lower string courses are of three-sided section, and have been carved with the ordinary Norman enrichment of the lozenge (see [Fig. 161.]). These are now nearly wasted away. The church attached to the tower is entirely modern, and a modern doorway of entrance has been cut through the tower.