Fig. 443.—St. Andrews Cathedral. East End: Exterior.
The east end wall is not now in its original condition, but enough remains to show what it was originally. [Fig. 442] shows its first condition when it was divided into three stories, with three windows in each, similar to those still remaining in the lower story ([Fig. 443]). The windows of the top range had in the interior ([Fig. 444]) shoulders at the springing of the arch similar to those of the windows still standing in the nave and transept. Nothing remains to show how the apex was designed. The windows of the two upper stories were almost entirely abolished during the first half of the fifteenth century, when one large window was inserted with simple tracery, of which enough remains to enable the design to be reconstructed ([Fig. 445]). The arch of this window is very slightly pointed, and is indeed semicircular in its inner ring, the object being to get as much extra height as possible without penetrating into the corbel course of the apex, the
Fig. 444.—St. Andrews Cathedral. East End: Interior.
cornice outside being, however, slightly raised in the centre over the top of the arch. The jambs and arch springers of the original windows, which did not require to be removed, have been left to tell the tale of the original design (see [Figs. 443] and [444]). We have in this east end an example of the Norman style of designing a façade by piling story above story, altered at a later date by the insertion of one large traceried window, so as to bring the façade into harmony with the later style of designing similar façades. From the small portions of the north and south walls still standing, it is evident that the same design as in the east wall of three stories was continued westwards in the choir. The upper story consisted of an arcade, having a central light in each bay, and an arch on each side opening into the passage which ran along the centre of the wall (see [Fig. 444]). On the outside these side openings were represented by blind arches. Against the north-east corner of the east wall a high angular buttress has been built (see Plan), having massive base mouldings of probably fifteenth century work. A similar buttress is indicated in the plan of the cathedral shown in Lyon’s History of St. Andrews as having existed at the opposite corner. The object of these buttresses is not apparent, as the east end wall shows no sign of weakness, although it has been badly used when the buttresses were built by having its corner stones pulled out. For the preservation of the structure the corners, which have been removed, ought to be replaced, seeing that the east wall now stands quite detached. The blank wall of the presbytery beneath the lower windows of the east end (see [Fig. 444]) appears to have been ornamented with an arcade, the blocks for the bases of the shafts being still in situ. The arcade must have been merely placed against the wall, and not bonded into it in the usual way, or else there would have been some remains or indications of it.