12 THE GREYFRIARS AND THE Moat BRAE. 
from the precepts laid down by their founder. Their churches 
were built for preaching purposes, and had few of the attributes 
of stately fanes like Melrose, Dundrennan, or Sweetheart. 
“Their churches were large, plain, and with aisles, being de- 
signed for preaching purposes.’’** The Friary of Elgin appears 
to be the only one in Scotland the remains of which admit of 
the plan being traced, and shows a single oblong consisting of a 
nave and a choir separated by a rood loft. What the dimen- 
sions of the Kirkcudbright Church were we have no means of 
knowing, but we may take it that they were much smaller than 
those of Dumfries. The cloisters were, as a usual rule, on the 
south side of the church, and this must have been the case at 
Kirkcudbright, as the burgh records and the remains which have 
been found at various times show that the churchyard was to the 
north and east, occupying at least three-fourths of the present 
Moat Brae. The great dormitory usually occupied the west 
side of the cloister court or garth, and the kitchen and refectory 
the north side, with the sacristy and the chapter house on the 
east side. In addition there would be other apartments such as 
the infirmary and other offices. A good example of this plan 
is to be seen at Dundrennan. So far as I know, there are no 
deeds to show the extent of the conventual buildings and the 
ground occupied by them, and there is no Friars’ Vennel or 
Friary Yard as at other places to give a clue. The principal 
part of Kirkcudbright Castle was built from the Convent, and 
that pile gives us some idea of the number of buildings, and 
the conformation of the ground helps in some degree. The Moat. 
Brae rises steeply from the river side. To the south of the 
Castle Aisle there is a sudden dip to the street, probably the 
result of the formation of the portion of street connecting the 
High Street with St. Cuthbert and Castle Streets. The Castle, 
however, occupies the same level as the street, and that site may 
have been a natural hollow. To the south of the Castle, im- 
mediately behind Auchengool House, and between it and the 
west end of Castle Gardens, the ground again rises steeply, 
finally dipping to the level of the High Street at or near Atkin- 
son’s Close. Between that close and the river would be all 
* Fletcher’s History of Architecture, 
