Part 29
[175] This illustration is from a drawing by Mr. John Dickson, solicitor, Banff, lent by Mr. Ferguson.
[176] Vol. III., p. 298.
[177] _Caledonia_, Vol. II. p. 393.
[178] _Celtic Scotland_, Vol. II. p. 223.
[179] _Caledonia_, Vol. I., p. 954.
[180] _Origines Parochiales_, Vol. I.
[181] _Caledonia_ (Linlithgowshire), p. 866, and _Transactions of Antiquarian Society, Edinburgh_, First Vol. (1792), p. 150-5.
[182] Morton’s _Annals of Teviotdale_.
[183] _Robb’s Guide to Haddington_, p. 44.
[184] In connection with this church, we have to thank Mr. James Reid, jun., Peterhead, for his ready assistance.
[185] _Transactions of the Buchan Field Club_, by James Aiken, Peterhead. 1889.
[186] We are greatly indebted to Mr. George Gray, Town Clerk of Rutherglen, for assistance in connection with the notice of this church.
[187] _The Pre-Reformation Churches of Berwickshire_, pp. 7 and 38.
[188] To whom we are indebted for the Plan.
[189] _Caledonia_, Vol. II. p. 529.
[190] M‘Kerlic’s _Galloway_, Vol. V., p. 68.
[191] The particulars of the history of Kinloss Abbey are extracted from the “Records of the Monastery,” by Dr. John Stewart.
[192] These are beautifully illustrated by the late James Drummond, R.S.A., in his _West Highland Monuments_.
[193] Extracts from the “Council Register of the Burgh of Aberdeen” (Spalding Club, p. 94.)
[194] There are scanty, but distinct, traces of two churches on St. Abb’s Head, about three miles north from Coldingham. They are situated about half a mile apart, one to the west of the promontory and the other to the south-east, and both stand on high cliffs overlooking the sea.
The one to the south-east, called St. Abb’s Chapel, (1) is situated in the centre of a churchyard, all the remaining tombstones of which were thrown into the sea during some law proceedings regarding the right of access by the public to St. Abb’s Head. At the time Carr wrote his _History of Coldingham Priory_ (published 1836), the walls of the church were standing to a height of some three or four feet; now only the grass-covered foundations remain. These indicate a chancelled building, the outside dimensions of which are:--length of chancel from east to west about 21 feet, width
about 24 feet; length of nave 56 feet by 30 feet in width. The chancel is full of rubbish, especially at the place where the arch is usually situated; but it is not unlikely that by digging here some remains might be found sufficient to indicate the style and period of the building. From Carr’s description it appears to have been a Norman building, as he speaks of a “small Saxon arch” (the term frequently used by writers about the beginning of the century for a Norman arch) as visible in his time (p. 243).
The other chapel at St. Abb’s Head (2) is in very much the same state as the one just described, except that more of the masonry is visible. It measures, on the inside, about 69 feet long by 22 feet wide, with walls about 4 feet thick. In the centre of the west wall there is a recess, about 6 feet long by 2 feet 6 inches wide; and at the north-east corner there is a notch about 9 feet square, cut out of the chapel, as it were, forming, to all appearance, a chancel, narrower than the nave on one side instead of in the centre. The remains are very scanty.
[195] _Caledonia._
[196] Morton’s _Monastic Annals of Teviotdale_.
[197] We are indebted to Mr. Robert B. Armstrong, F.S.A., for the use of drawings, and to Major W. Bruce Armstrong for some interesting notes.
[198] Original birth brief in the possession of the Comte de Bruce from Charles I., dated 13th July 1633, to Adam Bruce, younger son of Anthony Bruce of Waltoun, ancestor of the Comte de Bruce, deducing his descent, through the families of Bruce of Waltoun, Lethbertschielles, and Airth, from the house of Clackmannan, in which it is stated that Alexander Bruce of Airth was legitimate son of Sir Robert Bruce of Clackmannan.
[199] _Collegiate Churches of Mid-Lothian_, by D. Laing, p. cxx.
[200] Chart, Newbotle, 159. _Caledonia_, Vol. ii., p. 888.
[201] _Ibid._