Fig. 425.—Airth Church. Cap of Pillar.
Judging from the few details left, the Airth aisle is a structure of the fifteenth century. It measures about 24 feet 3 inches long by 13 feet 3 inches wide, and has contained a large traceried south window, which is now destroyed, and brought to the condition shown in Fig. 426. The external hood moulding of the window remains with nicely carved terminations ([Fig. 427]). Beneath this window is seen the top of an arched tomb, in which probably the recumbent effigy ([Fig. 428]) once lay. There is a small square-headed window in the east wall, divided by a mullion; but, as appears from its mouldings, it is an insertion of perhaps the seventeenth century. Adjoining this is the usual ambry. Beneath this aisle is the burial vault (indicated by dotted lines on the Plan), which is reached by the stair shown. On the outside of the east wall there is a niche for a statue ([Fig. 429]). It has the usual canopy and bracket so frequent on the churches of this late period. The bracket ([Fig. 430]) contains the Bruce arms—viz., the chief and saltier; the chief being charged with two incised cinquefoils, which may point to an alliance with the Livingstone family. The same arms, but without the cinquefoils,
Fig. 426.—Airth Church. The Airth Aisle, looking South.
appear beneath each of the first crow steps of the gable. This aisle was probably erected by Alexander Bruce of Stenhous and first of Airth (1452 to 1483), who was a son of Sir Robert Bruce of Clackmannan,[198] and is stated to have married (first) Janet, daughter of the first Lord Livingstone, by whom he had no issue. It was probably “our Ladie Aisle, founded and situated on the south side of the Kirk of Airth,” the chaplainrie of which was presented by Sir Alexander Bruce of
Fig. 427.—Airth Church. Terminations.