Fig. 806.—Lincluden College. Fragments of Sculptured Stone.
As in other churches, the choir was reserved for the ecclesiastics, being separated from the nave by a stone screen (see [Fig. 804]), in which, however, there is a large doorway, six feet wide, which was furnished with an iron grating, through which the interior could be seen from the nave. The upper part of this screen formed a loft, approached by a turnpike stair. The loft, no doubt, carried the rood. It is wider than the screen wall, and is supported by three corbelled courses, decorated with carved work of a large and massive character. The two upper rows represent angels, with wings, and having their hands crossed in front of the breast. The lower row shows a number of groups of figures, much damaged, but apparently representing scenes from the life of Christ. The large arch over the screen formed the western termination of the choir.[148]
It will be observed that the springing of the groined vaulting of the choir (which is now demolished, or, possibly, was never completed) is still visible, rising from the caps of the vaulting shafts (see [Fig. 802]). The groining, like the other features of the structure, was of a complete character, corresponding to the perfected style of the architecture. It comprised the usual transverse, diagonal, and wall ribs, and had also, as is common in English examples, intermediate ribs, or tiercerons and ridge ribs. These can all be traced in the remaining fragments. But what is more remarkable is that the remains of another and independent tier of vaulting can be observed above the groined roof. This is evident from the Sketch (see [Fig. 802]), which shows the springing of an upper plain pointed barrel vault, strengthened at intervals with transverse ribs. Grose compares this with the vaulting of King’s College Chapel, Cambridge; but he has mistaken the purpose of the different vaults. That of Cambridge was introduced in order to carry the pendants of the fan-vaulting below, whereas that of Lincluden has evidently been built to support a stone roof above. Plain pointed barrel vaults are very common in Scottish churches, and are invariably introduced for the purpose of supporting a roof of overlapping stone slabs. Numerous examples occur in this work, and roofs of that description were also very usual in the castles—as at Borthwick, &c. Generally, the barrel vault is visible from the interior; but in the present instance, the building being a decorated one, a roof of groined vaulting has been intended under the plain vault.
Grose speaks of a third roof of timber over the barrel vault, and both his drawing and Pennant’s indicate a turf or straw covering. But that could hardly be original. The building was, in their time, almost as ruinous as now, and it is very likely that the stone slabs of the roof had been removed, and a temporary wooden roof substituted, or a covering of turf laid over the barrel vault, which, perhaps, at that time still remained.
The space between the two vaults would form a chamber, which may have been used as a sleeping apartment. The window in the gable is still visible. A similar apartment, with a window, seems to have existed over the vaulting of the south transept, and both appear to have entered from the turret stair in the wall between the nave and choir.
A similar roof to the above occurs at St. Mirren’s Aisle, Paisley Abbey, where the two vaults, with a small chamber between them, still exist.
The ornamental work of the nave (see [Fig. 804]) is similar to that of the choir, and of the same date. The vaulting shafts are carried on brackets carved with the figures of angels, and the caps are of similar massive design to those of the choir. The tracery of the windows was of the same geometric or decorated style as that of the choir. The foundations of the west end of the church are quite distinct, but the foundations on the north side of the nave seem to have belonged to later buildings, as they do not harmonise with the design of the church.
The domestic wing has already been noticed. The cellars of the basement enter from the courtyard. Some of these have ambries in the walls. An octagonal turret, about the centre, contained the entrance doorway and a wheel stair to the upper floor. It was also provided with the shotholes usual in the sixteenth century.