MIDDLE POINTED OR DECORATED PERIOD.
Attention has been specially directed in the Introduction[126] to the fact that while, during the Norman and first pointed periods, a strong resemblance is observable between the architecture of England and Scotland, after the first pointed period there is a break in the continuity of the architecture of the two countries. Towards the end of the thirteenth century, owing to the political events which then took place, architecture in Scotland came to a standstill, and was not generally resumed till the end of the fourteenth or the beginning of the fifteenth century, when the country began to recover from the disastrous effects of the long struggle with England. Various restorations had been encouraged by royal grants during the fourteenth century, but some of the edifices so aided were only reconstructed to be again demolished by raids from the South.
In consequence of the unfortunate condition of the country, there is thus a wide gap in the continuity of the architecture of Scotland during the fourteenth century. When the country revived, and building again began in the fifteenth century, attention was chiefly devoted to the restoration of the churches throughout the country, which had nearly all suffered severely during the constant disturbance of the previous hundred years. Few new works were undertaken, all the energy and resources available being required for the rebuilding and completion of some of the more venerated and cherished cathedrals and monasteries.
The nave of Glasgow Cathedral appears to have been completed in the early part of the fourteenth century, and the west end of St. Andrews Cathedral was also to some extent repaired and rebuilt about that time. Elgin Cathedral was in a large measure rebuilt after the great destruction by the “Wolf of Badenoch” in 1390, and the Northern Cathedral of Ross, at Fortrose, was enlarged about the same period.
Of the ancient monasteries, those in the Border lands were much destroyed. Melrose Abbey now retains not a single portion of the original church. It had been completely demolished in the first part of the fourteenth century, but was partly rebuilt, through the liberality of Robert I., after the middle of that century; only to be again destroyed by Richard II. during his raid in 1385. To that savage raid was due the destruction of most of the sacred edifices of the south-east of Scotland. Richard’s troops penetrated as far as Edinburgh, when the town and church of St. Giles were consumed; and, in their retreat, the invaders set fire to the abbeys of Newbattle, Dryburgh, and Melrose. Paisley Abbey, in Renfrewshire, and Crosraguel and Kilwinning Abbeys, in Ayrshire, were also greatly injured during the contest with England. Jedburgh was likewise much damaged in the Border warfare, and Holyrood and Arbroath Abbeys show signs of having required restorations in the fifteenth century.
When all the adverse circumstances of the country during the fourteenth century are considered, it is not astonishing to find that examples of the decorated style which prevailed in England at that time are rare in Scotland. The representatives of that style are not only scanty in number, they are also late in date. When building in Scotland revived, the decorated style had been superseded in England by the perpendicular; but the two countries being no longer in unison, the former style did not reach Scotland till it had passed away in England. It was, however, ultimately adopted in the northern part of the island, and the architecture of Scotland, during the early part of the fifteenth century, was carried out in a style which approaches nearer to the decorated than any other style.
This style, as we shall see, passes gradually into a later and somewhat debased style, which, while it exhibits many features borrowed both from France and England, yet possesses some interesting peculiarities which render it a distinctly Scottish style, and will be treated of as the third or late pointed style of Scotland.
The decorated structures of Scotland, though somewhat belated and inferior in size, are yet in many respects not unworthy in point of design to take their place beside those of the later part of that period in the sister country.
The decorated or middle pointed period in Scotland extends till about 1460. Up to that time the architecture is comparatively pure in style, and is chiefly based on the decorated work of England; but after that date it degenerates and becomes of a debased and mixed character, and contains indications of late importations from abroad.
The first building which illustrates the Scottish decorated period is the Abbey of Sweetheart in Dumfriesshire. This edifice was probably begun about the time when hostilities broke out between England and Scotland, and is intimately associated with the name of Baliol. What length the works may have gone when stopped by the war cannot now be ascertained, but the original design in the early decorated style has to all appearance been carried out when building was resumed. The large traceried windows and the details of the nave arcade and clerestory all point to the decorated period. Possibly, owing to the English connection of the Baliols, the design may have been brought from the South in the latter part of the thirteenth century, and carried out with modifications at a later time.