Fig. 820.
Crosraguel
Abbey.
Cross on Belfry.
The sacristy entered from the south side of the choir by a door having a semi-elliptic arch, and mouldings and bases corresponding with those of the choir (see [Fig. 815]). This doorway also led to a wheel stair, which conducted to the scriptorium and library on the upper floor, and, through them, to the dormitory. The ancient south transept was wider than the present sacristy which occupies its site, as was disclosed by the excavations above mentioned. The sacristy and the chapter house adjoining are the best preserved parts of the edifice. They are both elegantly vaulted, and lighted with windows, the tracery of which is partly preserved ([Fig. 821]). The corbels ([Fig. 822]) which carry the ribs of the sacristy vaults are carved in a quaint and rather debased style, and point to a late date. The vaulting of the sacristy (see [Fig. 814]) is peculiar, the ribs being arranged in the sexpartite form. The apartment is considerably longer than it is wide; and the usual method of vaulting such an apartment would be to divide it into two bays, each bay having the usual cross ribs; but here the whole is vaulted in one bay, having six ribs. This arrangement makes the axes of the side vaults oblique, and produces the effect of twisting in the four side spaces of the vaults towards the centre. The vaulting here, being wider than that of the chapter house, rises higher, and thus rendered the floor of the scriptorium above it higher than that of the library over the chapter house, and necessitated some steps in the passages from the dormitory to the church. The opening to the sacristy from the choir is recent, this position having formerly been occupied by an altar platform, believed to have been erected in honour of Robert III. in 1404. The position of the high altar is still distinctly marked, being placed against a detached wall carried across the apse, and provided with a small door for access to the space behind. The three steps leading up to the east end are also discoverable, and each step is beaded on the edge (see [Fig. 815]). A plain doorway, with a drop arch, leads from the south-west angle of the choir to the east walk of the cloister (see [Fig. 819]). Only the foundations of the outer wall of the cloister walks are now traceable. This, no doubt, carried pillars and arches (or wooden posts), on which the wooden roof of the cloister walks rested. There may have been stone piers
Fig. 821.—Crosraguel Abbey. East Side of Chapter House and Sacristy.