OS1/13/102/18

Continued entries/extra info

[Page] 18
containing them. He also paved the floor of the Chapter House and repaired the farm houses belonging to the monastery. Prior Hepburn built the extensive wall still mostly remaining round the monastery and the College of St Leonards which he founded. It altogether enclosed a space of about 20 acres which formed the precinct of the monastery. It is 20 feet in height and about 870 feet in length and is defended by thirteen round or square towers at different intervals, on each of which there is one or two richly carved canopied niches. It has three gateways and in several parts may be seen the name and initials of the prior with his motto "Ad Vitam". One of these has the date 1520 on one of the turrets there is an inscription now scarcely legible but which seems to imply that the prior had carried on some improvements in the harbour which his predecessor had commenced. Leighton's Hist. [History] of Fife vol [volume] lll [3] pp [pages] 20, 21
The buildings of the monastery were situated on the south side of the cathedral and were with the precinct enclosed by the wall erected by prior Hepburn. Scarcely any of them however remains. The Cloister occupied the ground immediately south of the nave of the Cathedral and formed a large quadrangle in which the great fair called the Senzie Market was held and from which there was entrance by two doors to the Cathedral, the steps of the one at the west being still to be seen. It is now converted into a garden. On the west side of the Cloister was Senzie house, Senzie hall, or Senzie chamber, called also the house of the Sub-prior. It was quite entire in Martine's time and contained several rooms [continues]

Transcriber's notes

Continuation of Description for Site of Priory