being only 50 feet, but although somewhat debased in style, it is very
quaint and picturesque.
The structure suffered great alteration and damage from a restoration
which took place about the beginning of this century. At that time the
north transept, together with the seventeenth century aisle, above
mentioned, and a part of the nave were taken down.[109] A new north
transept was built, and a new additional nave was erected on the north
side of the old nave. A doorway was knocked through the east wall of the
chancel, which necessitated the shortening of the large east window
above it by raising the sill. At the same time, the chancel was
converted into a lumber chamber and porch, by the process of building up
the chancel arch. As regards the sacristy, its floor has been dug out to
a depth of about 7 feet, and it is now used as a heating chamber and
coal cellar.
During this restoration a quantity of carved and moulded stones was
removed from the church to Juniper Green, in the vicinity, where
probably about fifty fragments, several containing the Forrester arms,
were built into a wall on the road leading from the above village to
Baberton House, but the wall has since been removed. Fig. 1173 is a
sketch of one of these stones, bearing three hunting horns impaling a
bend engrailed. At Hermiston House, also, several carved blocks
[Illustration: FIG. 1174.--The Collegiate Church of Corstorphine. View
from South-East.]
removed from Corstorphine Church have been preserved, some of which
contain the Forrester arms.
The plan of the building (omitting the alterations above described) is
remarkable. It seems to consist of two portions--(1) the transepts and
division to the east of them, forming one church, and (2) the choir
further
[Illustration: FIG. 1175.--The Collegiate Church of Corstorphine.
Sedilia in the Chancel.]
to the east, which seems to have formed an independent chapel. This view
is supported by the history of the structure.
In the east wall of the chancel a stone is fixed, with an inscription in
memory of the first provost of the college, the stone being “apparently
transferred,” says Mr. Laing, “from the place where the provost was
buried.” The inscription is in the following terms, viz.:--
Istud · collegiū · incepit · āno · dn̄i · Mº,ccccºxxix · et · eodē ·
āno: maḡr · nicholay^{q} · bānachtȳ · p^{r}posit^{q} · hic · subt^{q} ·
iacēs · qui · obiit · āno: dn̄i · Mºcccc{o}lxx ... cui^{q} ·
āniu^{r}sare · simul · pr̄ isq · mr̄ is: celebrabitur · xiiiiº ·die ·
mēsis · iunii · p · quo · ānuus · redditus · x: s · in · villa · de ·
kyrk · cramuound · orate · pro · āib^{q} · eor^{l.} [This collegiate
church was begun in the year of our Lord 1429, and in the
[Illustration: FIG. 1176.--The Collegiate Church of Corstorphine.
Piscina in Chancel.]
same year Mr. Nicol Bannatyne was provost here, who, lying beneath, died
in the year 1470. A commemoration of him and his successors in office
will be celebrated on the 14th of June annually, for which an annual
rent of £10 is set apart, out of the lands of Kirk Cramond--Pray for
their souls.]
This inscription clearly fixes the date of the commencement of the
collegiate church, but although it has been transferred to the chancel,
there is nothing to show that the collegiate church it refers to is the
chancel. It is quite as likely to have reference to the church to the
west of the chancel, from which it was probably removed to its present
position. Both from the arrangement of the Plan and the aspect of the
eastern part of the building generally, it presents a distinct
individuality. It is both
[Illustration: FIG. 1177.--The Collegiate Church of Corstorphine. Tomb
of Sir John Forrester and his Wife.]
higher and wider than the church to the west, and suggests the idea of
having been built at a different time. Now it is matter of history that
Adam Forrester, already mentioned, who died in 1405, built a chapel
dedicated to St. John the Baptist adjoining the parish church, and it is
not unlikely that this chancel was that chapel.
In 1425-6 a charter was granted by King James I. for the endowment of
three chaplainries in the chapel contiguous to the Parish Church of
Corstorphine,[110] and securing to it, amongst other things, the annual
rents in Edinburgh bestowed by the late Sir Adam Forrester. That charter
clearly shows that this chapel, wherever situated, was in existence
before
[Illustration: FIG. 1178.--The Collegiate Church of Corstorphine.