Fig. 493.—Holyrood Abbey. View from South-East.
Each arch of the triforium (see [Fig. 492]) is acutely pointed, and contains two smaller acutely pointed arches within it, each of which has an inner trefoiled arch. These arches all spring from single round shafts, with plain round caps arranged to receive them. The tympanum of the large arch is pierced with a quatrefoil or trefoil. All the mouldings are of a bold first pointed character. The triforium, no doubt, contained the usual passage in the thickness of the wall, which would tend to weaken the structure. To counteract that tendency, as may be seen from the south ([Fig. 493]), strong saving arches have been introduced to carry the chief pressure across from main pier to main pier. A similar strengthening arch exists in the outer wall of the triforium gallery at Amiens Cathedral.
The west end of the edifice has contained the finest work of the building. The west wall, with its splendid doorway between the two western towers ([Fig. 494]), must have presented as bold and ornate a piece of architecture as was to be found in Scotland.
Fig. 494.—Holyrood Abbey. North-West Tower and West End.
The west front is now greatly shorn of its glory, but the portions which remain only tend to increase the regret for what is gone. As already mentioned, the south-west tower was removed to allow of the palace being erected, and even the western doorway is encroached on by
