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Continued entries/extra info

[Page] 55

Eastward of the entrance to the Abbey grounds and fronting the west, is the principal entrance to the once magnificent
church, which occupied a considerable portion of the north side of the area stretching from east to west. Unfortunately the
external appearance of the West front is a good deal impeded and is encumbered by extraneous buildings.
It now consists of the great portal or doorway flanked by the remains of two very fine square towers
one on each of the portal, and terminating the side aisles of the nave. These towers had originally been
upwards of 100 feet high and were surmounted at the corners by turrets or pinnacles. A part of
the north tower was blown down by a tempestuous wind in January 1739 and a side of the south tower fell down
in April 1772 and on the night of the 31st. Oct. [October] 1799 and about 25 ft. [feet] more of the south tower came to the
ground.
The South tower is said to have been the Campanile or belfry and the ground floor of the north
tower the baptistery of the Abbey. The north corner turret of the north tower is now the highest of the group
and called by way of distinction the "St. Thomas", in allusion no doubt to the patron Saint. It is 103 feet
high and of an octagonal form towards its summit, it is divided into stages by stringcourses and battens
inwards towards the top which is a conical-shaped cylinder.
Bremnar's Hand book of the Abbey 1852

Traditions says that in the South transept an altar stood dedicated to St. Catherine. Here three stone
coffins were discovered on clearing out the rubbish in 1816. They were supposed to be those of Gilchrist
Earl of Angus brother-in-law to King William the Lion and his two sons who were here interred.
Bremnar's Hand book of the Abbey 1852