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Inchmahome Priory

Lake of Menteith Aberfoyle, Stirling

Large image (980x747 - 111k) Looking east to the entrance of the nave, with the bell tower to the left of the doorway.
Large image (1002x760 - 78k) Looking from the west end of the nave towards the presbytery window.
Large image (560x822 - 130k) Interior view of the east window of the choir. Between the two leftmost lancets is carved a human head.
Large image (136x142 - 5k) The carving of a head at the upper junction of two lancets in the east window.
Large image (583x575 - 110k) The Choir and the east window, as seen from the Nave.
Large image (515x534 - 67k) Exterior view of the east window of the choir.
Large image (700x825 - 99k) The bell tower entrance from inside the nave.
Large image (569x868 - 128k) One of the arches in the north side of the Nave, looking out
Large image (881x560 - 112k) A view of the warming house.
Large image (1233x328 - 111k) View of the priory from the south-west. You see, from the left: the West Range; the Nave; the Chapter House; the East Range. onto the lake.
Large image (980x750 - 111k) Looking north across the south range to the cloister, with the nave and bell tower beyond.
Large image (1003x736 - 93k) Looking north towards the latrine block and warming house. The roofed building is the chapter house.
Large image (995x766 - 100k) Looking northeast across the cloister.
Large image (432x251 - 27k) Part of a graveslab with thick interlacing.
Large image (861x480 - 125k) Part of a graveslab with a fine interlaced cross.
Large image (1004x768 - 65k) View from the priory island, looking west to the mainland.
Large image (1008x764 - 91k) Looking south to a neighbouring island where there are castle ruins.
Large image (998x744 - 156k) Wooded paths give access to the whole island.
Large image (800x578 - 104k) Looking east to the entrance of the nave, with the bell tower to the left of the doorway.
Large image (850x604 - 167k) Looking into the nave.
Large image (533x800 - 133k) Arches around the east entrance.
Large image (850x593 - 152k) Looking across the cloister to the chapter house, later turned into a mausoleum.
Large image (850x603 - 128k) Another view across the cloister to the chapter house.
Large image (500x800 - 148k) Looking from the west range north into the nave and the bell tower beyond.
Large image (533x800 - 104k) Looking from the nave back out to the west range. Look at the arc of edge-on flat stones above the doorway. Then look a little higher up the wall and slightly to the right. There was clearly another opening there at one time.
Large image (533x800 - 130k) Looking through the ruined arcade on the north side of the nave.
Large image (850x559 - 141k) Looking into the nave from the northwest.
Large image (533x800 - 91k) Looking west along the northern face of the nave to the bell tower.
Large image (510x800 - 151k) Arches in the nave windows.
Large image (850x567 - 160k) Looking from the east end of the nave towards the bell tower.
Large image (850x433 - 114k) The sedilia* on the south side of the choir. This is where the priest and servers would sit during services.*
Large image (468x800 - 119k) Looking north past the chapter house. The root of the low arching roof over the covered walkway around the cloister can be seen projecting from the chapter house wall.
Large image (474x800 - 140k) The 14th Century graveslab of Sir John Drummond inside the chapter house.
Large image (468x800 - 130k) Part of a graveslab with a fine interlaced cross inside the chapter house.
Large image (533x800 - 145k) The inside of the chapter house - later to be a mausoleum. Lying on the left is the effigy of a Stewart knight. On the right is the double effigy of Earl Walter Stewart (who died around 1295) and his countess.
Large image (850x643 - 194k) The east window of the church, viewed from the outside.
Large image (850x564 - 119k) The west entrance, bell tower and north aisle of the church, seen from the northwest.

On the largest of the islands in the Lake of Menteith (this is Scotland's only 'lake' as opposed to 'loch'!) stand the ruins of the priory of Inchmahome.

Mary, Queen of Scots, stayed here in 1547. Not that that is especially notable...where didn't she stay?

The priory was founded in the early 13th Century for a small community of the Augustinian order (the Black Canons) by the earl of Menteith, Walter Comyn. It would seem that his reason for founding the priory was so that the prayers of the canons would ensure the salvation of his soul.

The Chapter House (recently re-roofed) contains several effigies and gravestones, including a rather splendid effigy of Walter Stewart who died in 1295.

External Links:

Find Inchmahome Priory (or the nearest known site) at the Megalithic Portal