OS1/14/35/54

Continued entries/extra info

[Page] 54

[Franciscan Nunnery continued from page 53]

a school-room it was used by a small body chiefly people well advanced in years as a place of religious
exercise." &c. &c.
Some Latin and Greek Scriptural quotations were formerly to be seen on a large stone in the north
wall of the Chapel; and within a recess in the south wall ornamented with small columns the Holy Water
Laver was placed with a gutter through the wall for draining off the water after its purpose was
answered. Above the circular top of the recess and within an eliptical wreath of flowers and foliage
there was inscribed in Roman Capitals of good formation the following devout ejaculation. "Lord vash ovr
souls in the blood of Christ." Besides the apartments on the same floor with [the chapel], there are a num­ber of others which
of course were the dormitories refectory &c. of the establishment but of how many individuals the sisterhood
consisted is unknown neither can it be stated at what time or by whom it was erected nor how endowed
beyond a single acre of land at the West Port and a small bit beside called the "Grey Sisters' Acre." In
the year 1685 this acre was let by the Hospitalmaster for the rent of thirty Shillings Scots and at present it produces
about £100 sterling of feu duties annually to the trustees of Guthrie's Mortification who are the superior pro-
prietors for the benefit of the Mortification - Mr. Guthrie having assigned it for educational purposes
so long ago as 1674. On one of the peat or putt stones of the roof of the house facing to Barrack Street the
date 1621 is placed but this merely shows that it had been repaired in that year by a secular pro-
-prietor and probably by one of the Forresters of Millhill it having long been the town house of that ancient
and now extinct family, and from them denominated "Millhill's Lodging." &c. &c.
The entry to this nunnery with the exception of the hall or Chapel which enters from Barrack Street is from the Overgate by the Methodist
Close at the top of which there is a small gateway surmounted with a platform of stone. The gateway is very simple and
wholly unadorned".

Thomson's Hist. [History] of Dundee, pp. 327, 328

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Alison James- Moderator, Iain496

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