Martin’s Chapel is the only ecclesiastical structure connected with it which still survives. In 1567 the prioress, with consent of the chapter, disponed the greater part of the lands of the abbey, which were conferred by Queen Mary on William Maitland of Lethington.
The chapel has all the appearance of being very ancient, “and probably existed as a church when Alexander de St. Martin gave over to the prioress and nuns his lands and tenements of St. Martinsgate.”[183]
It is a simple oblong ([Fig. 325]), 55 feet in length by 16 feet 6 inches in width internally, and appears originally to have had no buttresses; but several have been added at a later date. The side walls are 4 feet 6 inches in thickness, but do not appear to have been sufficiently strong to resist the thrust of the barrel vault with which the building was covered, and a portion of which ([Fig. 326]) still exists.
In the east wall there is an opening ([Fig. 327]) with plain jambs and round arch, which is sometimes called the doorway, but which is clearly the chancel arch. From excavations made a few years ago, it was ascertained that there were foundations of a choir 12 feet square, with a square east wall. The arch is, doubtless, late Norman in design, having a simple moulding on each jamb to form the imposts, and a plain moulding running
Fig. 326.—St. Martin’s, Haddington. Interior of West End.
round the exterior of the arch stones on the side next the church. The remains of a piscina adjoin the opening on the south side. The round-headed windows in the side walls are tall and narrow, widely splayed towards the interior, and covered with a large round arch on the inside sconsion. There have originally been two entrance doors opposite each other in the north and south walls, near the west end. The west wall ([Fig. 328]) had a single-light window, similar to those in the side walls; but it is now destroyed. The south doorway has been renewed, but some portions of
