OS1/13/33/7

Continued entries/extra info

7 Parish of Balmerino.
[Quotation]
" The ruins of the buildings of the abbey which now remain are comparatively trifling and afford but small evidence of what their grandeur must once have been. The church has entirely disappeared and its place is now only marked by the foundations of some of pillars which supported its roof. The portions of the other buildings remaining are an arcade of pointed arches supported by short strong pillars with ornamental capitals two vaulted apartments which appear to have been dedicated in all probability to some particular; and a strong stone room which originally had no entrance but a square opening in the arched roof. The arcade in all probability formed a portion of the fratery or refectory where the monks dined and appears to have originally had communication with the chapels which contained the altars or shrines of the saints to which they were dedicated. One of these situated between the refectory & the site of the church is entirely surrounded with stone benches and near the door were two stone basins for holding holy water above which formerly stood in a niche a statue of the virgin with the holy child in her arms. This statue which had fallen down was dug from the ruins many years ago and according to the account from the late minister of the parish was given to an artist of the name of Martin. The vaulted apartment which was entered by an opening from the top appears to have been a dungeon or place of confinement for criminals or refractory monks and dreadful place of punishment it must have been. Its rude strong walls which are of great thickness are built of large blocks of whinstone and as it was without door or window its wretched inmates must have been destitute of.... [continued]