east-lothian-1924/05-161

Transcription

PENCAITLAND.] -- INVENTORY OF MONUMENTS IN EAST LOTHIAN. -- [PENCAITLAND.

the south wall of the church inside is unbroken,
it may be inferred that it was built during a
restoration but on the original foundations,
as the outside basement course found on the
other portions returns here also. The buttresses
at the ends of this wall date from the 15th
century ; the intermediate buttresses are of
16th century type and apparently contemp-
oraneous with the pointed windows-four in
the south wall and one in the east gable. To
this period also may be ascribed the three
round-headed doorways. One of these, opening
into the chancel from the south, is now built
up ; the others, set at the western ends of the
north and south walls respectively have been
converted into windows.
The aisle projecting northwards from the
chancel dates from the end of the 13th century.
It is oblong on plan, one bay wide and two in
length. The opening to the chancel has been
much altered to gain the maximum of light
in post-Reformation times, when the aisle
became a laird's loft. It now consists of a wide
three-centred arch, which probably superseded
an arcade of two bays with an intermediate
pier. The flat arch springs from imposts in two
orders. On the eastern jamb are two nook
shafts separated by an intermediate plane ;
between the southern shaft and this plane is
a quirk. The shafts have neckings below rude
bell-shaped capitals dying into a simple rect-
angular abacus. The detail of this jamb
suggests 16th century work. In the north wall
are two large pointed windows, but both are
now built up; a 17th century doorway and œil-
de-bœuf are inserted in the infilling of the
western. The jamb sections of the windows
comprise two small rolls with undercut hollows
between and on either side of them. The hood-
moulds are small, of a common late 13th cen-
tury type, terminating in puny stops. In the
east wall is a large pointed window with
modern tracery and in the west wall a pointed
two-light window with eyes and a lozenge
shaped light with segmental sides in the head.
The jamb sections of these windows consist
of a series of splays with intervening checks.
The exterior of the north wall of the aisle
is divided into bays by three buttresses termin-
ating in gablets of 14th century type. These
buttresses have been reinforced in the 16th
century. Above the buttresses is an offset

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course terminating at either end in a skewput
carved with grotesques. Above this has been
added a deep course under an eaves course,
on the soffit of which are carved a series of
small grotesques. The aisle is obviously de-
signed for a quadripartite stone vaulted roof.
The removal of the abutment provided by the
arcade between aisle and chancel would necess-
itate the removal of the stone roof.
The north transept was added in the 16th
or 17th century. There is a pointed window
in the north wall, which may be contempor-
aneous with the windows of the church. That
this portion is no part of the original structure
is clear, as the early basement course does not
return around it.
A 17th century Renaissance doorway (fig. 42)
in the west wall, now built up, has a fluted
pilaster on either side of the jamb, terminating
in a base and capital under a cornice and a
broken semicircular pediment. In the tym-
panum is a shield with strap-work backing;
over the pediment is a fish-shaped stone in-
scribed with the initials S I S for Sir John (?)
Sinclair. In the same wall is an ogival headed
window of the same period also built up. The
quoins at the angles of the transept are back
set.
WOODWORK.-The pulpit against the south
wall is of oak dating from the 17th century ; the
back and base are modern. On plan it is six-
sided with two tiers of rectangular panels ;
the halfits contain four panels, the sides and
front each contain two slightly broader panels.
The panels are stuck moulded, with raised
fields carved in relief with conventional designs.
The rails are of the same width throughout ;
the stiles are narrower at the sides than on
the halfits. The pulpit retains the iron bracket
for the baptismal basin.
A length of 17th century oak panelling is
inserted in front of the gallery and another
length encloses the north transept. The
panelled pew backs immediately behind this
latter panelling are apparently of the same
age.
BELL.-Within the belfry hangs a 17th cen-
tury bell 1 foot 9 inches diameter at mouth,
11 inches diameter at shoulder and 1 foot
5 inches in height from skirt to crown. The
bell is enriched with 13 annular rings in relief
arranged in series. Around the shoulder is

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Douglas Montgomery

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