The last Benedictine prior was Alexander Dunbar, who died in 1560, and the first lay prior was Lord Alexander Seton, afterwards Earl of Dunfermline, who obtained possession of the abbey and lands. The monks do not appear to have been disturbed at the Reformation, but were suffered to die out gradually, as one monk still remained in 1586. After passing through the hands of various proprietors, the priory and lands were acquired by the Earl of Fife, and are now the property of the Duke of Fife, by whom the edifice and its surroundings are carefully attended to and kept in good repair.
The existing buildings ([Fig. 557], Plan) consist chiefly of the remains of the church, comprising an aisleless choir, north and south transepts with eastern aisles, and a square tower over the intersection. There is no nave, that portion of the structure having, apparently, never been erected. The monastic buildings consist of the sacristy, which lies to the south of the transept, and is known as St. Mary’s aisle; the chapter house; the slype and the monks’ hall, which all extend in a line further southwards, the whole forming the east side of the cloisters. The cloister garth measures 102 feet by 94 feet, and is surrounded by a wall partly ancient. To the south-east lies a detached ruin, supposed to have been the prior’s house. The oldest parts of the edifice are the transepts, with their eastern aisles, which are in the first pointed style, and were, doubtless, built during the thirteenth century, soon after the foundation. The transept measures 93 feet 6 inches in length, and, including the aisles, is 46 feet in width within the walls.
The sacristy, or lady chapel, which extends along the full breadth of the south end of the transept and aisle, is probably of the same date. The design of the north end of the transept ([Fig. 558]), which was probably built about the same time as Elgin Cathedral, has some resemblance to the east end of the choir of that edifice, but is much plainer. It exhibits two stories of pointed windows, with a large circular window above, now built up. This wall also contains the only well-preserved
Fig. 557.—Pluscarden Priory. Plan.
exterior door to the church. There is no triforium, but the clerestory on the east side is lofty, and has internally a high pointed and trefoiled
Fig. 558.—Pluscarden Priory. North Transept.