The west tower (1), which fell in the beginning of last century, is now a mere ruin a few feet in height, and the new west wall (2), built in consequence of the destruction of the old gable wall, diminishes the size of the nave. The eastern wall of the nave ([Fig. 878]) is a post-Reformation erection, evidently added to enable the old nave to be used as a parish church. The cloister (5) lay to the north of the nave, which accounts for there being no windows in the north wall of the latter. Not a vestige now remains of the cloister walk or garth.
The chapter house (10), slype (8), and (6) site of domestic buildings extended to the north of the transept. The old foundations and portions of walls remain in connection with the parts tinted black. The parish church (6) is now built on old foundations, with a porch at 7. 9 shows a piece of causeway flooring in situ, and 11 is the foundation of a pillar of the chapter house. The crypts (14), which are on a basement floor, show the extent of the choir, and 13 is the crypt or basement of a large building to the south. A considerable portion of the vaulting of these crypts has been preserved. To the east 17 probably indicates the foundations of the lady chapel. To the north of the choir is a detached structure (16), believed, from the remains of feathers, &c. found in it, to have been a larder. The remainder of the ground is entirely covered with graves, so that it was only accidentally that a small portion of the foundation of the south transept (12) was discovered.
Fig. 879.—Whithorn Priory. Tomb Recess in Nave.
The nave (see [Fig. 878]) still retains its ancient side walls, which are probably of the fifteenth century. The south-east doorway is of good form, and the mouldings are also good. “It bears the arms of Alexander Vaus, Bishop from 1426 to 1450.”[168] In the interior ([Fig. 879]) the north wall
Fig. 880.—Whithorn Priory. South-West Doorway of Nave.
contains two pointed recesses for monuments, of which the design is excellent. The general design is of first pointed character, but the moulding on the left side has been repaired with ornament of fifteenth