upper story into a gallery, with a private room adjoining, for the use
of the Blairquhan family, whose domain adjoins. This upper floor is
entered by a stair which has been erected on the south side of the wing
(but is omitted in the sketch).
The south wing or transept contains, besides the large east window above
referred to, a doorway (Fig. 1331) in the north-west angle, with an ogee
shaped arch, surmounted by a panel having a pointed and trefoiled
arch-head, and an enriched moulding surrounding the jambs and arch.
These features all indicate a late date. The large window in the south
gable is of handsome form and construction, and the tracery is well
designed and executed. It would naturally be assigned to the fourteenth
century, but for the lower members, which are formed with straight
lines, and certainly point to a later period, probably the sixteenth
century. This window thus shows the tendency there was in Scotland to
revert at the latter date to the forms of an earlier period.
The mode of finishing the gable also indicates a late time. Large gabled
crowsteps, such as are seen here, are rare features in ecclesiastical
edifices in this country. We do not recall any example of such large
crowsteps, except at Methven Church, Perthshire, which is undoubtedly a
late example.
The Church of Straiton was dedicated to St. Cuthbert, and granted, by
Alexander II. in 1236, to the monks of Paisley, but afterwards
transferred to Crosraguel Abbey.[152]