Fig. 649.—Beauly Priory. Choir, looking East.
The western façade bears the marks of Bishop Reid’s workmanship, and is no doubt part of what is meant to be attributed to him when it is said that he rebuilt the nave. The triangular south windows above mentioned, and the two light pointed windows on the south side of the nave, are undoubtedly much earlier than his date, which was about 1540-50, but other parts of the walls of the nave may have been re-erected by him when he restored the west end. The latter (see [Fig. 650]) is beyond doubt his work. The doorway in the centre, the arch of which is semicircular, contains the monogram I.H.S. on one of the label terminations, while the other drip stone shows two hands and two feet, with a heart in the centre ([Fig. 651]), emblems of the Passion. The arch of the doorway is round; but this, as we have seen elsewhere, is a common feature in Scottish work of all dates, and occurs especially often in late work.
The upper part of the west wall contains three pointed lancet windows, and is an example of the revival of early features in late work. Some of the windows in the side walls are of similar form, and are probably of the same date. The sill of the central window in the west end is kept high, so as to admit of a shallow ogee-headed niche for a figure over the entrance door. The figure may have represented the Baptist, but the niche is now empty. On a panel on the sill are Bishop Reid’s initials, R. R., and his arms, a stag’s head (see [Fig. 651]).
Fig. 650.—Beauly Priory. Nave from South-West.
The part of the church which projects to the north measures 25 feet by 22 feet 6 inches internally. It has been vaulted in two bays, the vaults springing from corbels in the walls; part of the vault still remains. This chamber is said to have been the sacristy. It has a turret at the north-west angle, containing a stair to the roof. In a recess in the wall which divides this chapel from the choir lies the tomb (abovementioned) of Sir Kenneth Mackenzie of Kintail.
We have seen that the “north work” was erected at the expense of Hugh Fraser (1430-40), and the style of this chapel corresponds with that date.