This structure is an interesting example of a private ecclesiastical
foundation. The remains of the chapel stand in an ancient churchyard, on
a knoll close to a small stream, about one and a half miles north-west
from Cardross Railway Station. The building has attached to it the piece
of land with which it was endowed, and is surrounded by the estate of
Kilmahew, the property of John William Burns, Esq., to whom we are
indebted for bringing the structure under our notice.
This chapel is believed to have been erected for the convenience of the
inhabitants of the locality, owing to the great distance of their parish
church at Roseneath, and also of the church of the neighbouring parish
of Cardross. The Napiers were proprietors of Kilmahew from about 1300.
John Napier was one of the defenders of Stirling Castle in 1304, along
with Sir William Olyfard. In 1406 William Napier obtained a charter of
the half lands of Kilmahew, “where the chapel is situated.”[169]
A chapel existed here in 1370, when a charter was granted to Roger
Cochran of the lands of Kilmahew, “with the chapel thereof.” In 1467 a
new chapel was erected by Duncan Napier, then proprietor of Kilmahew,
who endowed it with an annual rent of 40s. and 10d. out of tenements in
Dumbarton. In the above year the new chapel, dedicated to St. Mahew,
was consecrated by George, Bishop of Argyll, in mitre and full
pontificals, with the permission of the Bishop of Glasgow, in whose
diocese it was situated. Possibly the existing chancel is part of the
structure then dedicated.
At the Reformation this chapel was used as a preaching station by a
reader under the minister of Roseneath, but when the site of Cardross
Church was altered so as to bring it into its present more convenient
position as regards this locality, the chapel fell into disuse. The
burying-ground attached to it, however, continued in use for interments
till recent years. In 1640 a portion of the chapel was turned into a
school, in terms of an agreement between Robert Napier of Kilmahew and
the other heritors. Under this agreement Kilmahew bound himself--first,
“to give the use of his chapel of Kilmahew bewest the quir thereof, for
and in place of a school; second, to mortify to the schoolmaster
annually five
[Illustration: FIG. 1361.--Chapel at the Kirkton of Kilmahew. Plan.]
bolls one firlot of tiend bear, and also a house and a piece of land
layand thereto beside the chapel of Kilmahew, extending to about an acre
or therby, together with ane piece of land for pasture, which was of old
possest by the priest of Kilmahew, by order of the said Robert Napier of
Kilmahew his predecessors in time of superstition and popery; and in
case the annual value of these provisions should fall short of eighty
merks to make it up to that sum; third, to entertain the school master
present and to come, in meat, drink, and bedding, in household with
himself within the house of Kilmahew, so long as he shall discharge the
duty of family exercise and prayer within the said family.”[170]
The acre of ground above referred to is now in the possession of the
School Board, together with two acres excambed in 1795 for the priest’s
right of pasturing a cow on Kirkton farm.
The building is now unoccupied, but it is kept in good repair. It
consists (Fig. 1361) of an eastern portion or choir, which is roofed,
and of a western portion or nave, which is roofless. The former is
ancient, but the latter appears to be comparatively modern. The choir
is, internally, 13 feet 6 inches in length from west to east, by 16 feet
3 inches in width from north to south, and the walls are 3 feet in
thickness. In the west wall there is a rounded and chamfered arch 9 feet
2 inches in width, now built up. The choir has two windows, one in the
north
[Illustration: FIG. 1362.--Chapel at the Kirkton of Kilmahew. View from
South-East.]
wall and one in the south wall (Fig. 1362), each of which is
square-headed, and the outer jambs and lintel have a double splay. The
doorway, which is in the south wall, has also a square lintel and a bold
bead and hollow round the opening. In the interior of the north wall
there is an arched recess 8 feet in length by 2 feet in depth, which may
have contained a monument, or may have been an Easter sepulchre. The
east wall has two recesses, one of which may have contained a piscina,
while the other (Fig. 1363) is an ambry of an ornamental character, but
evidently of very late date. There is also a window in this wall placed
at a very high level, and out of the centre (see Fig. 1362). The gables
are finished with crowsteps, and on the south skew putts there are
shields
[Illustration: FIG. 1363.--Chapel at the Kirkton of Kilmahew.