OS1/14/5/39

Continued entries/extra info

[Page] 39

Regality Tower [note continued]

[continued from page 38]
east still stands the back wall of a large apartment which from its vicinity might probably have
formed the Court house or judgement hall of the regality."
Acct. [Account] of Abbey of Aberbrothock
By John Bremnar 1842

Connected with and adjoining the Regality Tower on its east, is the back wall of a building which
on examination at the south side, will be found to be an extension of the dungeon and prison accommo-
dations of the Regality. The Regality Court was presided over by a layman appointed by the religious
who had the power of "pit and gallows" i.e. to Condemn to a dungeon or hang on a gallows such
persons as were arraigned before him or to mitigate to such punishments as the crime merited
or caprice suggested.
Adjoining this and entering from the north is the grand entrance or great gateway which led into
the Abbey grounds. It was an arched passage sixty-four feet long, with gothic doors communicating with
other sides of the building. The vaulting was divided into four bays with diagonal and intersecting groins
springing from the walls and forming what is called a quadripartite roof. It is now called the "Abbey
Pend ". The present portal is sixteen feet high and eighteen feet wide but these dimensions were con-
tracted during the Supremacy of Cardinal Beaton to eleven feet high and 9 1/2 in width by clustering
shafts and corresponding mouldings. These contractions together with the fine groined
vaulting were removed about the year 1800 by order of the magistrates of Arbroath, in order to open
up a wider thoroughfare to the Streets formed in the Abbey garden, over which they acquired a feudal right.
Account of Abbey of Aberbrothock
By John Bremnar 1842 page 7 & 8

Over the portal is a square-headed window divided into two lights by a vertical mullion with
[continued page 40]