Fig. 634.—Cambuskenneth Abbey. The Tower from South-East.
The tower ([Fig. 634]), which is the best preserved portion of the monastery, stands near the north-west angle of the church, but is detached from it. The abbey being situated on the extensive plain known as the Carse of Stirling, probably after the Reformation the tower was found to be useful as a place of outlook over the level country around, and also, perhaps, as a place of security. The monastery was difficult of access, being almost surrounded by the river Forth, which winds here in a remarkable manner. It is, therefore, not unlikely that for the above reasons the tower has been preserved entire. It measures rather more than 30 feet square, with walls about 6 feet thick. It is groin vaulted on the ground floor, and has an octagonal turret stair leading to the top. From old plates it appears to have been finished on the top with the usual cape house and chimneys. The existence of fireplaces indicates, as above suggested, that the tower was taken possession of as a watch tower or castle, and was thus preserved. It is peculiar in being detached from the church, from which it is separated about 20 feet. The entrance to the tower (see [Fig. 634]) is by a narrow doorway in the south front. It has a slightly projecting porch with a high gablet, containing a niche, and is surmounted by a buttress. There are indications of buildings having been attached to the tower on the east side, but they have been of later construction than the tower, and were probably outhouses, such as are frequently found in connection with the pele towers. The finishing of the upper part of the parapet is modern. The tower is four stories in height, and is of good simple design in the later first pointed style.
The abbey was founded by King David I., with the consent of his eldest son, Prince Henry. The foundation charter is without date, but it probably belongs to the year 1147.[81] It appears to have been the original intention to call the abbey by the name of St. Mary, Stirling, as in the first charter it is by this name that the lands and fishings of Cambuskenneth are granted, and in all the early charters during the time of the first three abbots it is so designated. In 1201, as appears from two bulls by Pope Innocent III., the name was changed to St. Mary, Cambuskenneth.
The abbey was a house of the Canons Regular of St. Augustine, brought from Aroise Abbey, in the French province of Artois. The monastery was richly endowed. In 1445 the establishment consisted of the abbot, the prior, and seventeen monks. Many of the abbots were distinguished men, and were much employed as statesmen and Ambassadors.
About one hundred years after the above date of 1201 the abbey was in a distressful condition, owing to losses which it had suffered “by the wars which had for a long time raged in those parts, and by the conduct of certain sons of iniquity, who had seized and carried off the chalices, books, and the rest of the ornaments of the altar and other goods belonging to the abbey, and through the destruction of the bell tower by lightning, which had so reduced their circumstances that they were totally unable to repair the choir of the abbey, which was going to ruin.”[82] The abbot and convent appealed to Clement V., and, by a bull dated 15th September 1306, he conferred on the convent, by way of compensation, the perpetual vicarage of the Parish Church of Clackmannan. Probably it is to about this time that we may assign the erection of the tower, and that it should be constructed so as to form a place of strength, as suggested above, seems natural from the foregoing narrative.
During the time of Abbot Mylne (1517-48) the great altar and chapter house were rebuilt, and two new cemeteries were formed. These were consecrated and dedicated, on 11th July 1521, by James, Bishop of Dunblane. Regarding the existence of a previous chapter house there is ample evidence, but the circumstances which required a new one to be built are not known.
During the time of Adam Erskine as commendator (1562-1608), his chief, John, Earl of Mar, Lord Erskine, built his palace in the High Street of Stirling, and the tradition is that he used the carved stones of the abbey for this purpose. There is no evidence in support of this, and we do not think there is anything in the circumstances to confirm it. We have already referred to the matter at some length.[83]
The Abbey of Cambuskenneth figured prominently in many events of national importance. James III. and his queen, Margaret of Denmark, were here interred before the high altar, and their remains were found in the excavations of 1864, and were reinterred, a stone altar-monument being erected over them by Queen Victoria.
CULROSS ABBEY, Perthshire.
The lofty tower of this venerable abbey stands out prominently on the top of the wooded bank of the Forth, about eight miles below Alloa and six miles from Dunfermline. It is situated in a detached portion of Perthshire.