This ancient town, situated a short way north of Queensferry, contained
many interesting structures, but they have now been almost entirely
removed. The fine Town Cross, however, still survives.
[Illustration: FIG. 938.--Inverkeithing Church. Plan.]
The old parish church was burned down in 1825, and afterwards rebuilt,
the only ancient part preserved being the western tower (Fig. 938). This
tower has been partly incorporated with the new church, to which it
forms an entrance porch, and has a new doorway opened in its west wall.
It measures about 22 feet square on Plan, and has buttresses at the
angles reaching as high as the top story (Fig. 939). These have the
angles chamfered, and are finished with plain splays on top. An
octagonal turret at the south-east angle, with conical stone roof,
contains the stair to the upper story. The tower is finished with a
plain parapet on top, supported on simple bold corbels. The structure
above the tower is modern. Although not very high, the tower contains
four stories, the upper one being the belfry. It has large windows, with
one mullion and a transom, and very peculiar tracery in the arched head,
consisting of three perforated circles. The bell bears the date of 1641.
[Illustration: FIG. 939.--Inverkeithing Church. Tower, from
South-West.]
[Illustration: FIG. 940.--Inverkeithing Church. Font.]
In the interior of the church is preserved, and is still used, a very
fine font (Fig. 940), which was found lying in pieces in the ground
under the tower and in the churchyard, but the pieces have now been put
together again. The bowl is hexagonal in outline, 3 feet 2 inches
across, the orifice being 2 feet in diameter. Each face is ornamented
with a large shield, supported by an angel, and on each angle is a large
roll, supported on a head and embattled on top. The lower part consists
of five short filleted shafts, with angular projections between them.
The shafts rest on bold projecting bases, standing on an octagonal
plinth, and have a series of enriched caps (sadly damaged) running round
the font, which support the mouldings under the basin.
[Illustration: FIG. 941.--Inverkeithing Church. Font.]
[Illustration: FIG. 942.--Inverkeithing Church. Arms on Font.]
The arms on the six shields on the faces of the font are as follow (the
arms being, probably, those of the families named, but there is nothing
to show their connection with the font):--
1. Quarterly 1st and 4th, three bay leaves, for Foulis of Colinton;
2nd and 3rd, saltier and chief, wavy (Fig. 941). Bruce of
Balcaskie.