Wednesday 10 July 2019

Skelmorlie Aisle in Largs

There's an old building in the graveyard behind Largs town centre, and what's inside is truly amazing!  Once the private chapel of Sir Robert Montgomerie of Skelmorlie and his wife, Dame Margaret Douglas it was also their final resting place.  It is called the Skelmorlie Aisle and dates from the 1630s.


My photographs hardly do the place justice.  It has to be seen in person to appreciate the true beauty of the work.


Fortunately it still survives as the parish church which was once on the land was demolished in the 19th century.  The Skelmorlie Aisle now under the protection of Historic Environment Scotland.


There are so many decorative elements within the small space - biblical scenes, town scenes, coats of arms, sculptured stones - it would take days to really see everything.


I was fortunate to have a very knowledgeable guide the day I was there who explained much of what we could see, otherwise I would have been totally overwhelmed.


The graveyard itself is very interesting with some really old gravestones.


If you intend visiting the Skelmorlie Aisle in Largs, then please check with Historic Environment Scotland about opening hours.

2 comments:

  1. Amazing.
    Love the church and graveyard and it's good that's the gravestones are ok.

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  2. It's great that it has survived. Who would have expected such rich decoration in such an unassuming building?

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