Fig. 770.—Melrose Abbey. Caps of Piers in Nave.
The eastern piers of the crossing have been demolished, probably in some of the attempts to blow up the building in Henry VIII.’s time. Their destruction has entailed that of the central tower, of which only the western wall remains (see [Fig. 766]). The transepts have suffered by the fall of the tower, the vaulting of the north transept being demolished, except in one chapel, while that of the south transept is reduced to the south bays of the central nave and the adjoining chapel ([Fig. 771]). Fortunately the south wall of the transept, with its splendid decorated window, is still in good preservation ([Fig. 772]). From the south transept access is obtained to the roof of the aisle of the nave and the upper parts of the structure by a turnpike stair, which also forms the only mode of approach to the tower ([Fig. 773]).
The choir ([Fig. 774]), so far as the east end is concerned, is well preserved, the buttresses and gable, the celebrated eastern window, and the remarkable vaulting ([Fig. 775]) of the presbytery being all in good order. The remainder of the choir, however, has been greatly wrecked by the fall of the central tower; but many of the windows of the choir and transept,
Fig. 771.—Melrose Abbey. South Transept.
with their perpendicular tracery, have escaped destruction and afford the best example in Scotland of that form of design ([Fig. 776]).