The inner trefoiled arches of the triforium are of great beauty, and are
enriched with fine bold mouldings (see Fig. 758), supported on bold
shafts, the caps of which are carved with finely executed foliage,
partly showing some survival of first pointed feeling in the design, and
partly copied directly from natural foliage. They indicate a transition
stage from the early to the middle pointed style. The nave wall is not
divided into bays, with the usual vaulting shafts, the roof being
doubtless of timber.
The central tower over the crossing stands on four piers, similar in
section to, but larger than, the nave piers. The tower itself is square
and plain, and rises, with a double crow-stepped gable above a plain
parapet, to a height of over 90 feet. The water tables of the steep
roofs of the four arms of the church are distinctly visible on the
exterior of the tower.
The transepts extend 33 feet north and south of the crossing. They are
31 feet wide, and each contains two bays, with a chapel in the eastern
aisle opposite each bay. The east aisle of the south transept is the
only portion of the whole edifice which retains its vaulted roof. One of
the bosses bears a shield containing arms, said to be those of the
abbey. The charge consists of two pastoral staves in saltier, over which
is a heart, and beneath three mullets of five points. The motto is
indistinct.
The façade of the south transept (Fig. 760) retains a portion of its
circular window, the tracery in which, like that of the great western
window, has apparently given way, and has had to be partly built up in a
similar manner with solid masonry. This portion of the church possesses
a few features which seem to point to it as the oldest remaining part of
the edifice. The forms of the windows indicate a somewhat earlier date
than the rest of the church. A small portion of the triforium in the
north transept (Fig. 761) has been spared, which shows that it has been
similar in design to that of the nave.
The choir (see Fig. 761) is without aisles, and is 50 feet long by 28
feet wide, and divided into three bays. It is lighted with one large
traceried east window and two traceried windows on each side; and the
tracery, as rarely happens in Scotland, is still preserved. It is a
peculiarity of this structure that most of the arches are depressed, the
centres from which the arches are struck being below the level of the
capitals; and this peculiarity is particularly apparent in the great
east window of the choir.
[Illustration: FIG. 760.--New Abbey, or Sweetheart Abbey. View from
South-West.]
[Illustration: FIG. 761.--New Abbey, or Sweetheart Abbey. Choir, from
Crossing.]
is also noticeable in the side windows and throughout the building, even
the arches of the main arcades of the nave having, as already pointed
out, a similar form. The inner mouldings of the window arches by this
arrangement abut against or die into the jambs, a form not in itself
displeasing; but the incompleted and broken appearance of the arches of
the hood at the face of the wall cannot be regarded as beautiful.
Some further peculiarities are also to be noticed in connection with the
tracery. A prominent moulding is carried round the mullions and the
lower arches only of the eastern window, while the upper parts of the
tracery are plain and rather heavy in appearance. In the case of the
side windows of the choir a similar moulding is carried round the whole
of the tracery, and the effect, owing to the depression of the arches,
is somewhat squat and heavy.
The most beautifully detailed feature of the church is undoubtedly the
triforium. Although now only well preserved in the nave, it has
originally gone round the whole edifice, small portions of it being
still preserved, as above mentioned, in the triforiums of the transepts
and choir (see Fig. 761). In the two latter places it has been simpler
than in the nave, the caps being moulded in these situations, and
beautifully carved with foliage in the nave.
The semicircular arch of the upper window in the east gable (Fig. 762)
of the choir and the similar form in the exterior windows of the
triforium of the nave (see Fig. 757) are quite in accordance with
Scottish usage, and give no clue to the date.
The sedilia and piscina of the choir have been of fine workmanship, but
are now sadly destroyed.
It is unfortunate that so few written records remain to fix the dates of
the different parts of the edifice. It is known to have been founded in
1275, and if in England, the building would, from its style, be
attributed to the period immediately succeeding; but in Scotland, the
period from 1296 onwards was a time of war and disturbance, when very
little building was in progress. Probably the choir was begun in the
lifetime of the foundress, and was sufficiently far advanced to permit
of her burial within the walls; but the building would certainly be
interrupted during Edward’s invasions, and was not likely to be resumed
till after a considerable interval. Some portions of the transept have
already been referred to as probably the oldest parts of the existing
edifice. The choir seems to have been next constructed or completed, and
the nave not long afterwards, probably during the fourteenth century.
Although ecclesiastical buildings in Scotland were rare at that period,
still we know that Bruce encouraged the re-erection of churches at
Melrose, Crosraguel, St. Andrews, and elsewhere, and there can be little
doubt but that in this remote and quiet region building operations may
have been in progress during his reign. The design and workmanship at
Sweetheart are, as we have seen, in some respects inferior and contrast
disadvantageously with the beautiful work at Dundrennan Chapter House.
May we hazard the conjecture that the latter was executed before the
true current of
[Illustration: FIG. 762.--New Abbey, or Sweetheart Abbey. View from
North-East.]
architectural feeling and design was stopped and broken by the War of
Independence, while the buildings at Sweetheart were carried on and
completed after the current had been interrupted, and the sympathy with
the advancing art of the South had not had time fully to recover itself?
We are informed[131] that, in 1381, a charter to the Church of St.
Colmonel of Butyle was granted by the Bishop of Galloway to Sweetheart
Abbey on account of the poverty of the abbey and the demolition of the
monastery by lightning, which charter was confirmed by the Pope in 1397.
This seems to point to some considerable damage sustained by the
buildings about that period, and may account for the curious repairs of
the tracery of the great west window and the circular window of the
south transept. It may also explain the remarkable patch of the upper
window in the end of the north transept, where the originally pointed
window has been mended with a segmental top.
The cloister garth is still traceable and is unencumbered with
buildings, except one detached gable, evidently of ancient date, but the
history and use of which cannot now be determined (see Fig. 760). It
contains two shields, but the armorial bearings have entirely
disappeared. This view from the south-west point, which includes the
above ivy-clad gable in the foreground, with the remains of the chapter
house and an ancient tree on the opposite side of the cloister garth, is
one of the most striking and picturesque aspects of the abbey.
The chapter house is separated from the south transept by a narrow
passage or slype, from which a door opened into the transept.
The size of the chapter house has been about 30 feet by 20 feet, but
only a few feet of its walls remain. It has been lighted by a large
traceried window looking to the east (see Fig. 760). The refectory is
said to have been on the south side of the cloisters, but it has now
disappeared.