north and east walls are demolished. The south and west walls are quite plain. Some of the corbels of the parapet, however, still survive.
The south-west courtyard is of considerable extent, and contained a number of domestic offices, such as bakehouse, brewhouse, &c. A picturesque gatehouse gives entrance to the monastery through this courtyard, and strangers’ apartments are provided in the upper floors.[155] The pigeon house is also a well preserved example of that common class of structure.
The ruins seem for a long period to have formed a convenient quarry for the district, but they were put in good order about fifty years ago by the Kilkerran family, and are now well preserved and cared for.
ST. GILES’ COLLEGIATE CHURCH,[156] Edinburgh.
The Church of St. Giles occupies the site of the original parish church of Edinburgh. It stands in a conspicuous situation in the centre of the Old Town, on a comparatively level piece of ground (probably an ancient sea margin), which occurs in the general slope extending from the Castle to Holyrood. In the ninth century, when Lothian formed part of Northumbria, the Church of Edinburgh is mentioned as belonging to the diocese of Lindisfarne.
About 1120 a new church was erected by Alexander I., of which some fragments remained till the end of last century. This church is frequently referred to in subsequent reigns. Notice of it occurs under Alexander II., in the early part of the thirteenth century; in 1319, it is mentioned in an Act of Robert I.; and in 1359, under David II., a gift of lands is confirmed to it.
The earliest of these notices doubtless referred to the Norman church of the twelfth century, of which not a fragment now remains in situ; but some detached Norman carved stones, such as caps, have been found in excavations in the interior. The edifice appears to have been rebuilt about the time of David II.
In the constant wars with England Edinburgh naturally suffered much. It was damaged by Edward II. in 1322, when Holyrood Abbey was also spoiled. Under Edward III. the country was laid waste in 1335, when the capital was again injured. This raid, having occurred in February, was afterwards known as the “burnt Candlemas,” from the conflagrations raised during its continuance. A reconstruction of the edifice was probably required after these destructive harryings, and this appears to have been carried out during the fourteenth century. But shortly afterwards a most complete devastation of the town and all its buildings was occasioned by Richard II. during his invasion in 1385. He then occupied Edinburgh for five days, and, on his departure, laid the town and the parish church in ashes.
A great effort was made by the citizens on this occasion, along with assistance from the Crown, to repair the disaster to their church. From this period the history of the structure as it now exists may be said to date.