EuiNS AND Stones of Holywood Abbey. 69 



remaius of a cross carved upon it ; a stone to the left of the 

 principal gateway, with the representation of a dragon carved 

 upon it ; and a stone inserted in the south wall upside down, 

 bearing the legend Margarat Wilson — evidently a stone from the 

 old abbey or its burial g-round — were among other relics men- 

 tioned. Also a stone in the garden wall of the nearest of the 

 Kirk Houses, with two weather-worn human figures upon it; 

 and the side pillars of the lesser manse g'ate, which had been 

 taken from the old abbey. This is disputed by some. 

 Many of the stones of the churchyard wall have the original 

 shell and lime mortar adhering to them, which, of course, 

 bespeaks their origin. At the site of the abbey or chancel, 

 which was standing rather more than a hundred years ago (and 

 of which Dr Martin exhibited a contemporary drawing, borrowed 

 from Edinburgh), there is still a portion of wall, running east and 

 west, just appearing above the surface for a distance of three 

 feet, though a neighbouring enclosed burial-ground encroaches 

 upon nearly half of it. It is composed of ordinary stone and lime, 

 and goes down for several feet, as has been shewn w'hen digging 

 graves beside it. It is no doubt at the site of the ancient chancel. 

 It is near to this that the vault and subterranean passage are sup- 

 posed to be. At the Abbey farm many of the stones of the abbey 

 are built into the outhouses, having been carted over from the old 

 farm-steading beside the ruins thirteen years ago ; but none of 

 them are carved or smoothed. From what he had seen of the 

 stones and remains, the abbey must have been a structure of no 

 mean dimensions and beauty. What remains are underneath the 

 ground could only be brought to light by careful excavation, and 

 there was an unoccupied piece of ground close to the ancient wall 

 described, which he should recommend to be first explored. This 

 might be fitting work for the Society to undertake, and at no 

 distant date. 



Mr Barbour expressed his sense of the value of Dr Martin's 

 paper. The drawing of the chancel, he observed, shewed it to be 

 of Early English architecture, accompanied as that often was by 

 the rounded Norman doorway, and it might belong to the thirteenth 

 century. The dimensions of the chancel did not seem to indicate 

 that the buildings had been very extensive. He was doubtful 

 about the pillars at the manse gate having come from the abbey, 

 as the style of architecture to which they belonged was the 



