Skelmorlie Aisle
Encyclopedia
The Skelmorlie Aisle of Largs Old Kirk is the remains of a church in the town of Largs
, Ayrshire
, Scotland
.
, a division of the once larger building containing the mausoleum, was retained.
built by a local landowner, Sir Robert Montgomerie of Skelmorlie Castle
, seventh laird of Skelmorlie
as a burial site for himself and his wife, Dame Margaret Douglas. The aisle was added to the old kirk
(church) of Largs in 1636, and comprises a Renaissance
canopied tomb above the burial-vault entrance. A third coffin within the tomb is said to be that of Sir Hugh Montgomerie of Eaglesham
, a hero of the Battle of Otterburn
. It can be compared with other significant tombs, such as that of the Cunninghames, Earls of Glencairn
at Kilmaurs
in East Ayrshire.
Sir Robert's coffin is especially long and much of the lead on the bottom of the coffin is missing, supposedly taken by local fishermen who believed that lead weights made from it would result in a large catch of fish.
is signed and dated 1638 by J. Stalker and is in vernacular
contrast, albeit the designs are derived from the work of a goldsmith at the French royal court, Etienne Delaune
. Lively scenes illustrate the seasons as well as the Montgomerie and Douglas conjoined coat of arms
, oddly with the quarters of the Montgomerie arms incorrectly placed as in the Polnoon
example. The arms in the panel above the entrance door also have this 'mirror image' arrangement.
. Admission is free, although visitors need to obtain the key from the adjoining Largs Museum. Both the kirkyard and museum are open from late May to early September from 2.00pm to 5.00pm.
Largs
Largs is a town on the Firth of Clyde in North Ayrshire, Scotland, about from Glasgow. The original name means "the slopes" in Scottish Gaelic....
, Ayrshire
Ayrshire
Ayrshire is a registration county, and former administrative county in south-west Scotland, United Kingdom, located on the shores of the Firth of Clyde. Its principal towns include Ayr, Kilmarnock and Irvine. The town of Troon on the coast has hosted the British Open Golf Championship twice in the...
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
.
History
The majority of the kirk (church) was demolished in 1802 when the new parish church came into use, but the aisleAisle
An aisle is, in general, a space for walking with rows of seats on both sides or with rows of seats on one side and a wall on the other...
, a division of the once larger building containing the mausoleum, was retained.
The Montgomerie tomb
The Skelmorlie Aisle contains a notable monumentMonument
A monument is a type of structure either explicitly created to commemorate a person or important event or which has become important to a social group as a part of their remembrance of historic times or cultural heritage, or simply as an example of historic architecture...
built by a local landowner, Sir Robert Montgomerie of Skelmorlie Castle
Skelmorlie Castle
Skelmorlie Castle is a castle in North Ayrshire, to the south of the village of Skelmorlie, on the Firth of Clyde, Scotland. The castle was formerly the seat and stronghold of the Montgomery Clan.-History:...
, seventh laird of Skelmorlie
Skelmorlie
Skelmorlie is a village in North Ayrshire, Scotland.Although it is the northernmost settlement in the council area of North Ayrshire it is contiguous with Wemyss Bay, which is in Inverclyde. The dividing line is the Kelly Burn, which flows into the Firth of Clyde just south of the Rothesay ferry...
as a burial site for himself and his wife, Dame Margaret Douglas. The aisle was added to the old kirk
Kirk
Kirk can mean "church" in general or the Church of Scotland in particular. Many place names and personal names are also derived from it.-Basic meaning and etymology:...
(church) of Largs in 1636, and comprises a Renaissance
Renaissance
The Renaissance was a cultural movement that spanned roughly the 14th to the 17th century, beginning in Italy in the Late Middle Ages and later spreading to the rest of Europe. The term is also used more loosely to refer to the historical era, but since the changes of the Renaissance were not...
canopied tomb above the burial-vault entrance. A third coffin within the tomb is said to be that of Sir Hugh Montgomerie of Eaglesham
Eaglesham
Eaglesham , is a village and parish set in the west central Lowlands of Scotland - population 3,127 . Today it is chiefly a dormitory town for commuters to nearby Glasgow. The village is distinctive in being based around a large triangular green...
, a hero of the Battle of Otterburn
Battle of Otterburn
The Battle of Otterburn took place on the 5 August 1388, as part of the continuing border skirmishes between the Scottish and English.The best remaining record of the battle is from Jean Froissart's Chronicles in which he claims to have interviewed veterans from both sides of the battle...
. It can be compared with other significant tombs, such as that of the Cunninghames, Earls of Glencairn
Earl of Glencairn
The title of Earl of Glencairn was created in the Peerage of Scotland in 1488 for the first Lord Kilmaurs .On the death of the fifteenth earl in 1796, there existing no original Letters Patent of the creation nor a given remainder in the various confirmations in title of previous earls the title...
at Kilmaurs
Kilmaurs
Kilmaurs is a village in East Ayrshire, Scotland. It lies on the Carmel, 21.1 miles south by west of Glasgow. Population recorded in 2001 Census, 2601- History :...
in East Ayrshire.
Sir Robert's coffin is especially long and much of the lead on the bottom of the coffin is missing, supposedly taken by local fishermen who believed that lead weights made from it would result in a large catch of fish.
Painted ceiling
The painted timber ceilingScottish Renaissance painted ceilings
A number of Scottish houses and castles built between 1540 and 1640 have painted ceilings. This is a distinctive national style, though there is common ground with similar work elsewhere, especially in France, Spain and Scandinavia. Most surviving examples are painted simply on the boards and...
is signed and dated 1638 by J. Stalker and is in vernacular
Vernacular architecture
Vernacular architecture is a term used to categorize methods of construction which use locally available resources and traditions to address local needs and circumstances. Vernacular architecture tends to evolve over time to reflect the environmental, cultural and historical context in which it...
contrast, albeit the designs are derived from the work of a goldsmith at the French royal court, Etienne Delaune
Étienne Delaune
Étienne Delaune, Delaulne, or De Laune, a French engraver, was born in Paris, or more probably at Orléans, in 1518. He commenced bis...
. Lively scenes illustrate the seasons as well as the Montgomerie and Douglas conjoined coat of arms
Coat of arms
A coat of arms is a unique heraldic design on a shield or escutcheon or on a surcoat or tabard used to cover and protect armour and to identify the wearer. Thus the term is often stated as "coat-armour", because it was anciently displayed on the front of a coat of cloth...
, oddly with the quarters of the Montgomerie arms incorrectly placed as in the Polnoon
Polnoon Castle
Polnoon Castle was a 14th century fortification located on a motte beside the Polnoon Water in the Parish of Eaglesham, East Renfrewshire, Scotland.-The Montgomerys of Eaglesham:...
example. The arms in the panel above the entrance door also have this 'mirror image' arrangement.
Access
Today Skelmorlie Aisle is in the care of Historic ScotlandHistoric Scotland
Historic Scotland is an executive agency of the Scottish Government, responsible for historic monuments in Scotland.-Role:As its website states:...
. Admission is free, although visitors need to obtain the key from the adjoining Largs Museum. Both the kirkyard and museum are open from late May to early September from 2.00pm to 5.00pm.