Markinch
The main surviving portion of the old church is the 17' square
bell tower with Romanesque bell openings and fragments of its
demolished nave. The tower is of 4 storeys, each separated by a
projecting, decorated string course, as also occurs at Dunblane cathedral.
The whole is built of a fine ashlar and was connected to the nave
via a fine Romanesque arch of 2 orders. Immediately above this
was a small doorway allowing access between the 2 structures at this
level. In England such 2 tier naves are generally regarded as Pre
Norman Conquest. This forms one of the group of 5 such towers in
Scotland, the others being Dunblane cathedral, Dunning, Muthill and St Rule.
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Paul Martin Remfry