Fig. 639.—Culross Abbey. North Transept.
The doorway from the tower to the east church and the passage leading to the chapel, which stood on the east side of the transept, are late Gothic. The east church, as already stated, is a complete cruciform structure, having choir, transepts, and nave in itself. The north transept (see [Fig. 637]) was built, in 1640, by George Bruce of Carnock, it is surmised, on older foundations. The south transept is, generally speaking, old; it had an east aisle, opening by two arches from the transept and one arch from the choir. This aisle is now removed, and the arches are built up, but their outlines are visible from the exterior ([Fig. 638]). This aisle is shown by Slezer with a lean-to roof against the transept. In the corresponding position on the north side there appears to have been a similar aisle; part of its east wall still exists ([Fig. 639]), with an early two-light window, and the remains of what appears to have been a canopied tomb, although Mr. Beveridge[84] regards it as being the doorway to the north aisle. Built against the wall, in an upright position, is the recumbent figure probably belonging to this tomb.
All the original windows of the east church, which were large and important, have been built up during this century, and smaller windows of a debased type inserted, with the exception of the east window (see [Fig. 638]), which is original, and is of good design; but even this is lost to the interior, being partitioned off in order to allow a gallery stair to pass it.
A part of the west wall of a chapel, which formerly existed to the north of the tower, is indicated by the jamb and springing of a window. A sketch section of its mouldings is given in Fig. 640, as also a section of the mouldings of the door to the turret, which entered from this chapel. These mouldings are evidently not earlier than late fourteenth century work. There are two seventeenth century burial vaults adjoining the north transept. In the larger of these is the fine monument to Sir Robert Bruce of Carnock, illustrated in The Castellated and Domestic Architecture of Scotland, Vol. V. p. 207.
Fig. 640.—Culross Abbey.
Sections of Mouldings of
Chapel Window and Turret Door.
Adjoining the south transept on the south is the sacristy, now converted into a vestry, and hardly to be recognised as old, owing to alterations. The shape and position of this apartment clearly indicate its original use; it had the usual east window, now built up, and has otherwise been altered.
To the south of the sacristy was the chapter house, which also occupied its normal position. Just enough remains to enable it to be identified, viz., the northmost of the usual three west openings to the cloister ([Fig. 641]), with the jamb and springing of the central opening, or as much of it as can be seen for the modern walls that are built up against it. This fragment, even in its mutilated state, is a fine example of first pointed work. The inner order of the arch mouldings has fallen away, and otherwise the work has been greatly destroyed, its beauty not having been appreciated. The shafts and arch mouldings ([Fig. 642]) are all of very bold and pure design. The caps and bases are rounded, and the hood mould, which was also a string course, is ornamented with the dog-tooth. The chapter house had two rows of columns, as is evident from the remains of the springing of the first arch from between the two existing openings as shown in [Fig. 641] and the Plan ([Fig. 642]). It was usual for the two side openings to be unglazed windows rather than doors, but