Restoration of Jedburgh Abbey. By Jas. Watson. 133 



had not a little to do with the resolution to leave the church 

 under the tower for that at the west end of the nave ; and for 

 the same reason it was found necessary at a later date not to re- 

 move the whole of the old walls. Lord Lothian at one time 

 seriously considered the propriety of renewing the north piers so 

 as to give the tower a further lease of stability, but ultimately 

 the idea was departed from, and means were taken to preserve it 

 as far as possible in its present state. A brick buttress was 

 thrown up against the north-west pier which bulged out consider- 

 ably, and large wooden beams were placed against the north-east 

 pier — doubtless the " pryme pillar " already alluded to — which 

 is almost wholly encased in modern masonry. To lighten the 

 top of the north wall a belfry was taken down, but this was not 

 to be regretted as it was not in keeping with the general design. 

 The belfry consisted of three distinct parts, namely, a central 

 octagonal tower, twenty feet high, with an open bell cot on each 

 side. The octagonal part was clearly of first Transition char- 

 acter, of the same date as the pointed part of the chancel, and 

 therefore at least two hundred years older than the tower on 

 which it stood. We think it probable that this was one of the 

 turrets of the eastern gable (its measurements were such as to 

 support the idea) and that it was erected on the tower shortly 

 after 1545 for the use of the church under it. The kirk clock 

 was in the centre turret, and bells were suspended in the bell 

 cots until 1771 when they were removed to the town steeple then 

 recently built. Originally the clock had occupied a position 

 lower down on the north wall of the tower, where the mark of 

 the dial is still seen at the centre window, or opening, and the 

 Abbey bells had evidently been hung in the upper story. To 

 ensure the safety of the foundations, concrete was laid round 

 those of all the pUlars; and to add to the appearance of the 

 north transept a large quantity of earth — the accumulation of 

 centuries — was cleared from its base. No cost was spared to 

 improve the amenity of the Abbey, and with this view the 

 manse, which was close by, and several other houses, were taken 

 down. The whole work, as may well be imagined, was one of 

 great labour and much expense ; but the result has been such 

 as to make Jedburgh Abbey one of the most beautiful ecclesias- 

 tical ruins in Scotland, and for this the Marquis of Lothian 

 deserves the gratitude— as he wiUno doubt receive— of all lovers 

 of axchitectural art. 



