caithness-1911/05_031

Transcription

HISTORY OF MONUMENTS, ETC., IN COUNTY OF CAITHNESS. -- xxix

chancelled, it bears a strong resemblance to some of the rude chapels
to be found on the islands to the W. and N. of Scotland. The entrance
doorway, now built up, is situated in the centre of the W. wall, and has
jambs which incline upwards, while in its existing walls there is no
sign of a window, though possibly in the E. gable of the chancel, now
gone, a narrow slit may have existed as in the primitive chapels. The
nave and chancel are divided by a solid wall pierced by a low doorway,
similar to that which gave access to the nave. Though it may not
be possible definitely to date this structure, it probably belongs to
a period as remote as the 12th century, and is certainly one of the
earliest chancelled churches on the mainland of Scotland. St Peter's
Church, Thurso (No. 418), appears in its present form to be the
result of various alterations made to meet the requirements of
different times, and probably the greater part of the building dates
from the 16th or 17th century. Its plan discloses in the base of the
tower a small, low-vaulted, apsidal cell, square on the outside, now
unfortunately inaccessible. This cell has an early form quite un-
related in style to either the nave or transepts of the church, and
is possibly a relic of 12th century date. The church of St Thomas
at Skinnet (No. 91) is a chancelled building, with no architectural
features to indicate its precise period of erection, but it evidently
occupies the site of a much older structure, as the finely carved,
sculptured stone (No. 445), now in the Thurso Museum, was found
built into its S. wall. The remains of a Celtic cross (No. 93) are
still to be seen on a slab standing adjacent to the doorway. The
churches of Dunnet and Canisbay (Nos. 61 and 23), both on the
north coast, are of Pre-Reformation date, possibly 14th century, and
much resemble one another, each having a square tower in the centre
of the west front, surmounted with a roof of the saddle-back type in
line with the roof ridge of the church.

CASTELLATED AND DOMESTIC STRUCTURES.

The castellated buildings of Caithness, of which there are any
considerable remains existing, range in date from the 14th to the
17th century, and furnish examples of the development of the castle
thoughout that period. Of any structures subsequent to the era of
the brochs, such as might have been the halls of the Scandinavian earls
or the castles of the Scottish maormors, and identifiable as such, there
is not a trace. Nor are the great courtyard castles that express else-
where in Scotland the prosperous reigns of Alexander II. and III.
represented in this county. The small rectangular keeps, which
came into vogue of necessity in the lean years beginning with the
Wars of Independence, here commence the series. Such are the
Castles of Old Wick (No. 495) and Forse (No. 185), occupying
positions of great natural advantage on the necks of promontories
whose precipitous flanks rise sheer from the ocean. A deep trench
has been cut across each promontory, and from the seaward side of
this rises the castle. Each is rudely built, and the thick walls are
pierced by narrow windows few in number. The main doorway
has been in the first floor reached by movable steps or by a ladder,
and, as no stair exists in the thickness of the walls, probably
some equally primitive arrangement in the interior gave access to